Consignment Fun!

Just an update after my frantic post last Friday- we survived the hurricane just fine- I actually was much more relaxed on Saturday- Mike and I gave our dining room a total makeover, giving it a fresh coat of paint and rearranging furniture.  It hasn't actually served as a dining room in many years- it's now much more organized instead of just a storage looking room.... we have Kaylin's art supplies all organized- this is what has overcome the dining room and would just spill over out of control.  I'm crossing my fingers we have this beast tackled and that Kaylin will be able to keep it organized.  We're not quite finished- I ordered a smaller computer desk so we can move the desktop computer up there as well.  I'll post a photo when it's all complete. :)

Anywayyyyyy.... back to the hurricane- neither we nor my parents lost power throughout the storm- major blessing!  Mike and I had to turn around 5 times trying to get to my parents' house on Sunday to pick up the kids- so many fallen trees blocking roads, down wires, and many many traffic lights out.  We finally got there after two hours on the road- our drive is usually one hour.  We decided to take the highways home even though it was out of our way to do so.  All the detours we tried using back roads were out of the way also, and who knows if more trees would fall by the time we left in the evening.  We made it home just fine.  Whew!  Mike's office was closed yesterday as well as many area school systems since there are still so many without power.  Those schools were still closed today (not ours)... he went in to the office today and said it still took him about 2 hours to get there (should have been one).

Saturday morning, hours before the hurricane arrived, I went to one of our local consignment sales- there are two a year I participate in- both buying and selling, and I have to say they are absolutely FABULOUS!!  These are one-day fundraising events for local non-profit organizations- I participate in this one every year in August for our local junior women's club where all proceeds go to charity, and I participate in one each February for a local Lutheran school.  Both are run the exact same way and in the same location- a huge arena at our local Agricultural Center.  This arena is so awesome- it's ginormous, and super super convenient for those of us consigning items.

To participate, you call ahead for a registration packet and get assigned a consignor number.  Since I participate each year, I request the same number so I don't have to re-tag items that didn't sell at the previous sale.  You tag your own items, setting your own price- you will receive 60% of the price and the organization running the sale will take 40%.  There are also two different color tags- items you would like to pick up if they didn't sell, and items you would like to donate if they don't sell.  Items not sold that are donated will be sold during their half price sale a few hours after the first sale ends.  Anything not sold after the half price sale is donated to local charities.

Back to the ginormous arena- the day or two before the sale, you bring all your items to drop off.  In this huge arena- we get to DRIVE right in, drop things off at the table right next to your vehicle, and drive out!!  SO convenient!!  Makes life great for those of us with several kids in tow.  And when it's time to pick up items that didn't sell- you drive right in again and volunteers working the sale will bring your items to your car- you don't even have to get out!!

Here was the line waiting to get in- the sale opens at 7:00 AM and I arrived around 6:45.  Yes, waking up at 6:00 on a day with no kids at home was painful; what was even more painful was that my alarm was still set to 5:00 by mistake since that's when I got up to prepare for vacation last month.  ACK!!

And here's my loot ;)

Many people bring their laundry baskets with them to load up with clothes n such- I haven't been buying as much since we've been blessed with a TON of hand-me-downs for all three kids! :))  LOVE those.  I still shop for nice dresses for Kaylin and any other odds and ends.  Above, I purchased three dresses, one top, and one pair of shoes for Kaylin, two Carters sleepers and a pair of cleats for Justin, two puzzles for Evan, and I couldn't resist two little dresses for P. :)  Grand total??  Just under $40.  Can't beat that!!  These are all in excellent condition also.  To make it better- Mike and I stopped at a local White Rabbit sale near the hospital later that morning, and I found a Spiderman costume for Justin for $3!  He was thrilled. :)

The next sale I will be participating in will be for Carroll Lutheran School held in February at the Carroll County AG Center.  Let me know if you'd like more info! :)