Today we are going to focus our post on buying used children’s clothing.   Here are some of my best tips on buying used clothing in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago.

*  RESALES–Many of you may already know about this gold mine, but I want to put it here first.  There are so many great resales in this area.  I know four that I’ve attended personally and saved a lot of money on name brand clothing in which some still had tags on it!  Brand new clothes for resale prices, I’ll take it!  I think the most I paid for a brand new item even is $5!    The top four I know of are resales by multiple/twins clubs Double Take Resale in Arlington Heights and One Plus One Multiples Resale in Hoffman Estates (these are both two times a year in the spring and fall so that you can get both types of seasonal clothing), Here Whee Go Again Resales (also spring and fall) and Growing Cents of Style in Barrington.  I also found this link that shares more in Illinois.

*  GARAGE SALES–The garage sales in this area are amazing and have great prices on gently used clothing.  I have heard people say they got items as low as $0.50!  Check on Craigslist (select “garage sale” in middle) or Garagesales.com and plan out your morning.  Sometimes they list what they have ahead of time!

*  ASK AROUND–Some people do not want to be bothered selling items or want to “Pay it Forward” and are willing to give old children’s clothing away.  Sometimes they have new items that their kids didn’t get to wear or were a different season for the size they had.

*  EBAY–Many people sell sets of Gymboree or The Children’s Place clothing on Ebay.  Make sure you are specific in your searches.  Type in the size or brand of children’s clothing you are looking for.  I’ve seen huge boxes of miscellaneous items on Ebay sorted by size.  You might pay a little more than the other options above but you get the whole matching set and it is shipped right to your door!   Very convenient!

Head over to Life as Mom Knows It for the rest of this post!  Make sure you share these tips with others and feel free to tell us how you stock up on used children’s clothing in the comments section!

How to Vote:  Scroll down past the photos  to the Rafflecopter form below (it might take a minute to load).  In the first box, select the green button “+1 Do it”, type in the name of the girl AND boy you are voting for, and also put your name and email address.  After you type this in, select green “Enter” button and you are set!  You get one entry into our drawing for a $25 Visa Gift Card or a $25 Target Gift Card.

For extra entries in the drawing to win a $25 Visa Gift Card OR a $25 Target Gift Card, you can do the other items in the green boxes.  Just follow the directions given.   Please understand that this does NOT increase your chances of winning the Contest, only adds extra entries to win the gift cards giveaway at the end of the contest.  It is also is a GREAT way to support the sponsors so that we can continue to get such amazing sponsors in our future contests!  All entries will be verified so please be honest.  Also do not try to vote with different email addresses or names because I can check the IP address as well.  The winners of the Cutest Kid Contest will be chosen from the most votes and announced in early June.  After the winners have been announced, I will contact the two winners of the gift cards.  You must vote before you are given extra entries for the gift card drawing.

The voting will close May 31st, 2012.   The form will not allow you to vote anymore if it has been closed.

On to our adorable contestants!  Ladies first!

And on to the boys!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Photo Credit: www.storybookmom.com

www.storybookmom.com

Facebook/The Storybook Mom

Day 1: Demolition

Almost 3 weeks later we are almost done. Same wall.

After almost 3 weeks, my family is almost done with a huge kitchen remodel.  I will post photos of the kitchen when it is completely finished but this is a sneak preview of what it looks like.   I know it will be gorgeous when we are all done but it is a stressful process.  As much as I dreamed of remodeling my kitchen in the past 3 years of living in my home, I didn’t think it was possible with my husband and my schedule and three very active little boys.  Somehow we have almost made it through!

The house was built in the mid-60′s and we bought it pretty outdated with a lot of work to be done.  It is a lot of fun getting to choose exactly how we want the house to look and everything is custom fit to our tastes.  I also laugh now at how many times we had changed our minds with the design of the kitchen.  When it was still a dream, we had always wanted very dark wood cabinets and as you can see from the photos above, we went with a beautiful vintage white color.  We couldn’t be happier with our choices and really have had a fun time building our dream kitchen together.

Below are some of the problems we have faced and how we remedied them.

1.)  Meals–Our kitchen and dining room have been out of service for almost 3 weeks and we have a family of 5 to feed, including 3 boys under the age of 5.  The challenges have mainly been what to cook, how to cook it and how to get the little one (2 years old) to sit and eat.

The solution:  We have used our old microwave and a toaster oven in the basement to heat our foods somehow only eating take out foods about once a week.  The boys are getting tired of eating chicken nuggets and hotdogs but luckily we have gotten creative baking chicken and pizza in the toaster oven and even trying scrambled eggs in the microwave.  It wasn’t bad either!  The little one never sits down to eat now without being strapped into his booster seat, so that is the one problem we haven’t solved.

2.)  Dust–Our house is full of dust!  Even with the kitchen and dining room taped off from the rest of the house, the dust still spreads VERY easily!  With the high amounts of traffic and the dog sneaking through the tape, our house is covered in dust.  The challenges have been a lot of sneezing and looking at the mess!

The solution:  Every weekend we try to mop up the upstairs living room floor that is the worst of it.  We try to get out at least once a day if not more to get fresh air as well as keep the windows open as much as possible.  Our family has vowed to do a full deep cleaning (including carpets) after the remodel is over!

3.)  Kids’ boredom–We have basically lived in our basement for 3 weeks!  It is a tv/playroom but when you turn into a kitchen, dining room and hang out area too, the kids get bored.  The challenge is getting them to stop trashing the room with food, toys, books, and dishes!

The solution:  Do a daily cleaning of toys, books and dishes.   Try to avoid sauces or anything colorful that can be spilled and ruin carpet more than it already is.

4.)  No Dishwasher or kitchen sink–This is my biggest grievance!  I’m really struggling with doing the one chore I resent more than anything else.   The challenge is keeping up with the flow of dishes and also finding time to do it when the kids are downstairs most of the time and the bathroom is upstairs.

The solution:  My family has a double sink in the bathroom and we have been washing dishes once a day in the bathroom sinks.  One for soaking and one for washing/rinsing.  Then we try to dry and put away in the appropriate boxes right away.

5.)  Making decisions–During the process, we’ve had to make a lot of decisions!  Some are due to the budget or design and others are just little details.  The details can be very daunting at times.  My husband and I luckily have similar taste in the design of things so that helps.

The solution:  Keeping organized!  Form lists and assign a few tasks each weekend.  Sit down and communicate a plan.

As we come to the end of our remodel, I start to ponder when we might be able to start our main bathroom.  I guess it can’t be that bad if I’m already looking ahead to the next big project!   Have you done a big remodel before?  Tell us your tips to keep your sanity below!

Remember to get your Spring sessions scheduled soon because we are almost booked through May!

What do you think about this edition of Fashion Friday?

Credit: http://corinanielsen.com/blog

Regular Clothing–The best places that I’ve seen to buy clothing for my boys are Kohl’s, Old Navy, and The Children’s Place. They have a great selection at all three places and the best prices I’ve seen.

* At Kohl’s you can many times find the kids’ clothing on sale. I usually buy the Jumping Bean brand which is usually 50-60% off. Sometimes you can get lucky and find the clothing on clearance racks which gives you even more of a savings. From there I stack a 15-20% coupon with the sale. These come in the mail all of the time if you have their credit card or sign up for their email list. Finally there are many times where they give “Kohl’s Cash” which is $10 back to spend on your next shopping trip when you spend $50. That is a great savings!

* Old Navy also has some great deals on their clearance rack and always have some coupon available for $10 off of a $50 purchase or 10-30% off. Sometimes they also have Old Navy Bucks and give money to spend on your next trip.

* Finally, there is The Children’s Place which I usually use for fancier clothing for my boys. I love to buy nice polo shirts or sweaters there depending on the season. They also have great accessories like hats, ties and shoes for boys. If you shop their Monster Sale online, you can usually get items less than $5. Sometimes they send extra sale coupon codes if you sign up for their email list and they send you a $10 when you spend $40 coupon for your child’s birthday.

Where do you like to shop for your child’s clothing? Find the rest of the post HERE on Life as Mom Knows It.

Photo Credit: Looking Glass Friends Entertainment

Every parent wants a photo of that magic moment when their child meets a beloved character. Those photographed moments when a child looks up at Santa with a sense of awe, or a child runs to hug their favorite princess, or all dressed up in their Sunday best with the Easter Bunny. Yet what happens when your child does not have the same awe, and excitement that you had dreamed?
I’m the owner and a performer for my entertainment business, Looking Glass Friends Entertainment, www.lookingglassfriends.com. I am involved in character performance, have 15 years of theatre training and experience, and a higher level education in working with children for counseling psychology. I’ve seen it a lot in large community events to birthday parties to play dates. There is always the uncertainty of a child running towards the character or away from the character. I’ve been fortunate to bring to life characters such as Rapunzel, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Tinker Bell, Alice in Wonderland and more.
A few tips:
*Know your child’s personality. Remember how your child reacted when they met any new person for the first time as an indicator of their potential reaction.
*Make sure your child is well rested, fed, and in a favorable mood.
*With infants, ask a character to remain seated, and ask if they will hold your young child or kneel next to your stroller, carrier, etc. Maintain eye contact with your child, and back them up to the character rather than handing off your child face to face with the character. If you can, stay within view or reach of your child without being in the photo (unless you wish to be) or snap your photo quickly before they start wondering why you are suddenly standing behind a camera and not the one holding them!
*For young children talk about meeting the character beforehand. Talk about what it might be like to meet the character (“She must be very nice”, “He is very silly”) or questions your child may want to ask (“Do you live in a castle?” “What is your favorite animal?”)
*It can be very helpful to search for meet and greet videos online. Watch the videos first before sharing it with your child. Look for videos of the character interacting with other children and comment “She looks like she is having fun!” or “Wow, he must be so lucky to meet that superhero!” Do your research as to which characters may not be appropriate for your child just yet, such as a villain.
*Mascot or fur characters are sometimes more challenging since they do not always look human. The character’s look can make it a little more difficult to relate to. Start out with characters that look very human and natural and work your way from there.
*Model how you want your child to interact with the character by doing it yourself. Also, align yourself with any siblings, other young relatives, and friends who can model good behavior and cheer your child on!
*If you’re not able to catch that perfect photo moment you have been dreaming of on the first try, do not fret! You can always try again. The most magical moments are never forced, but happen naturally! When that moment comes be sure to have your camera ready!

I am excited to share a special opportunity with some of you hardworking, loving moms that don’t always get the chance to be in the photos with your kids.  Trust me, this is something you’ll want on your walls and in your hearts forever!

Just Peachy Photography is going to reserve Saturday, May 5th for a special Mom and Me Mini Session date!  This will be a session that will capture the relationship you have.  We will get a few posed images but focus mainly on having you interact, play and just have fun together!

We have to get enough participation to hold this event but the details are listed below.  We have 7 spots open for this amazing session deal!  Session times will be issued by time of request and paid deposit.  We cannot guarantee any session times before then.  Dads and Grandparents, this is a great gift for Mom!  Email us at Erika@justpeachyphotog.com or call at 847-302-1783 for details of location or any questions.  Full session amount is required for a deposit to reserve your spot.  We accept cash, personal checks, Paypal, and all major credit cards.  May 12th will be reserved as a rain date but full refunds will be issued in case of inclement weather (to be determined by photographer).

Here is my entry.   I had a vision for a maternity session to be taken in the water.  I used one light off to the side shot through an umbrella and then the setting sunlight.  I love the beautiful colors in this image and the sweet look on the mom to be’s face as she thinks of her little girl.

Rock the Shot–www.rocktheshotforum.com

Another exciting day!  We have even more kids entered into the Spring Cutest Kid Contest 2012!  At this rate, I’m not sure we’ll need to keep the entries open until May 11th!    We will allow people to enter until May 11th or until spots have been filled so make sure you send yours in soon!  We have so many wonderful prizes for the winners, great perks for the participants and even a fun drawing for the voters!

If you would like more details about the contest, please go HERE!

Every day we’ll be announcing one of our amazing sponsors!  Today I’ll announce our seventh prize from Mother’s Helpers!

A great sitter is always just a phone call away. 

Whether you need a day off, a night out, or a weekend away, we’re here for all of your childcare needs.  Mother’s Helpers provides qualified, pre-screened sitters for temporary, permanent, full-time, part-time, or occasional care in your home for children of all ages.

Mother’s Helpers has been providing quality sitters to parents in the Boston area since 1961.  We expanded to Denver in 2005, and continue to provide the same quality service and peace of mind for parents in the Northwest Suburbs, North Shore and Downtown Chicago.

We provide three levels of service:

• Babysitters will care for your children any time of day, including driving them to and from activities upon request.
• Mother’s Helpers will provide overall assistance, including caring for your children, running errands, and performing light housekeeping (e.g. laundry, dishes, picking up toys).
• Overnighters will stay in your home and care for your children.  This can include driving to and from activities, as well as light housekeeping.

  Your children’s care is our first concern.  We only recruit sitters whom we would trust to care for our own children.  Our sitters are at least 18 years old, experienced with children, and responsible.  Our screening process includes a personal interview, criminal background check, DMV check, and references check.  Our sitters are carefully screened, engaging adults who provide their own transportation to and from your home.

No booking fees.  No hassles.  There is an Annual Placement Fee of $50.00.  Babysitters start at $12.00 an hour (based on number of children.) 

Our phone number is 847-202-9100 or you can e-mail us at contact@mothers-helpers.net.

It’s easier with Mother’s Helpers.

Find more information about Mother’s Helpers  HERE.    Check out their Family Favorites program too!

Find Mother’s Helpers on Facebook HERE and make sure you tell them Just Peachy Photography sent you!

Special Promotion:  $10.00 off our Annual Placement Fee of $50.00 (Valid only for the first year, and new client must sign up by the end of the contest).  This offer expires at the end of the contest.  Contest ends May 31st, 2012.

One of our voters (randomly selected in a drawing after the contest) will win:

* $25.00 Visa Gift Card

Value: $25

Prize limitations:   No cash value.  Prize can be transferred.

See prize 6 details HERE.

See prize 5 details HERE.

See prize 4 details HERE.

See prize 3 details HERE.

See prize 2 details HERE.

See prize 1 details HERE.

Remember to come back tomorrow and submit your entries!