How-to Consignment Shop withOUT Kids {Thoughtful Thursday}

I have to remind myself, "It is coming. It Is coming. Spring time is coming!"

Thoughtful Thursday a weekly series on asJulesisgoing.com

I am so ready for some color sprinkled all over the ground, warmer {not hot} days, and the general cheeriness of the spring season. Another thing I love about season change is consignment shopping. Eek! My fave? Duck Duck Goose, the "BIG Sale" in Little Rock, AR!

Don't get me wrong, I don't really like spending money on clothes I just LOVE a great deal. We haven't had to spend much over the past few years due to God's blessing of hand-me-downs from friends and family as well as within our own closely born babes! This year though...this year, the year of limbo and growth, has brought us to the place where Every child needs nearly an entire spring/summer wardrobe. My kids are eating like there's a famine coming and sleeping like its going out of style- that's coming, too. The Growth Spurts! This year I plan to be proactive in this inevitable circumstance.

I need to be able to shop in a reasonable amount of time, thinking through purchases, as well as get all the things I need for the season without duplicates. Soooo, I'm fixing all of that. How am I going to get the right sizes without taking the kids, you ask? THAT is what I want to share with you today. I think this could work for consignment shopping or clothes shopping in general.

Check list for prepping to go
Children's Clothes Shopping:

{note: I'm not a genius, these tips come from years of watching the experts šŸ˜› }

  1. Purge
    • Set aside all clothes for that current season {for me right now Winter}. The kids will still need these a bit longer.
    • Then pull out all clothes that are the next season that will not fit {spring/summer for me}. I'm talking, if you have to, do a fashion show, try on all clothes that may be on the line of not fitting {if and When they have that next growth spurt}.
    • Next, identify all clothes that you haven't been putting on your child due to them being stained, shrunk, stretched out, holey, whatever.
    • Finally, depending on if it just doesn't fit or if it's really used: Consign, pass down to the next child, or pass along all those clothes to a friend, family member, clothes closet, etc. Don't allow them back in the closet or dresser. It will only be misguiding when you go to dress you child.
  2. Take inventory of each child's closets and dressers.
    • For real, write down exactly how many of each item they have, their size, and even the color.
    • When you go shopping you will know you don't need a pair of pink shorts, black tennis shoes in size 6, or 2 more green sun dresses.
  3. Make a shopping list
      • List the things they will need for the next season.
      • Look at your calendar to be reminded of events/holidays coming up: Easter, swimming, birthday parties were some of the things I am considering.
      • Compared to what's left in the closet/dresser, how many items to they really need. Do Not waste money on a gazillion outfits for each child. They will use them and then grow out of them.
      • We try and keep it down around 5-10 mix & match shirts/shorts/pants and maybe 5 dressier items per child. Some days, even that many gets overwhelming: laundry, stain busting, consigning later, and then we all know family/friends will get them items for holidays, plus my girls share most of their clothes right now.
        Shop a Consignment Event withOUT Your Children- shoping list
  4. Measure each child. They will think this is fun.
    • Feet
      1. Use a piece of paper {card stock or constructions paper holds up the best} and trace one foot of each child.
      2. If your kids have feet that are different sized, fit differently in shoes, etc you might want to do both.
      3. I just did one foot for each child because I have three kids I'm shopping for at once and the things you have to carry around add up quickly.
      4. I also cut out each foot for more convenience.
    • Body
        1. Torso {shoulders to hips}
        2. Legs {hips to floor}
        3. Tummy {largest part around their midsection}
        4. Waist {where pants will need to fit}

      Bottom {largest circumference around toosh}

        • option: fabric tape: measure each child and write down the sized on the back of your "shopping list".
        • option: different color ribbon for each child. Measure and make them on the with a marker or pen on the ribbon {label what each line is}

Shop a Consignment Event withOUT Your Children- take measurements
{I punched a hole in each foot as well as the ribbon so I could hook them on a big ring for easier carrying.}

That sounds like a lot of stuff to think through but it's really not. I just tried to be very detailed for anyone who had never done this AND this is helping me think through what I need for next week's undertaking. If you're like me, you don't get too many chances to go shopping. And on top of that, these consignment sales don't come around but maybe twice a year. šŸ˜‰

Next Thursday, I'll be back with a check list for taking with you to a Consignment Event! {link live next Thursday}

Share your tips & tricks for consignment shopping! We love to hear your favorite finds as well šŸ™‚

UPDATE:
I know I shared my favorite consignment event above but just in case you don't have one in your area, here is an online consignment shop: "ThredUp". And you can get $10 off your first order using the code: GIMME10! Have fun!!! {valid thru 2-22-13 midnight}
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My Comfy Peace that, “God’s GOT This!”

God's been opening doors all over the place since we committed to this God-size dream He gave us.

valley testlogo blackI mean, we shouldn't be surprised right? If he ask us to do something He's not gonna sit back and laugh at us while we fumble around making fools of ourselves while trying to accomplish it. Heck no. God's already got a crazy detailed manuscript He's directing and we are just blessed to be asked to have an extra part in a tiny scene of this movie we call eternity.

Way back in November 2011, when my husband shared with me that he was sure God was calling him to be a pastor {and if you know me and my hubs, this would be a shock to all of you as well}. Not only was he supposed to be a 'grown-up pastor' now but he was being asked to PLANT a Church.

WHAT?!?! Aren't there enough churches? Everyone is leaving the ones that exist. How are we supposed to do any better than what's already out there? We know NOTHING about running a church.

These were the questions that I later learned were flying through my husband's head when he began sorting this God-sized dream out. He joked about some of these things but it never seemed to be a dampener on what God was gonna let us do. I'm slightly childish in this way. When God ask me to do something, I'm sure its Him, I just do it. Some may call that extreme faith but I think its just how He made me...kinda like being short ;o)

If I give myself lots of time to think about something, that's when the questions come. Not the, "don't you know I can't do this God"s but the "well, what can I do to move this along" questions. This life of limbo is either one of two things; God teaching us {lots of} something(s) OR satan trying to mess with my head and get me to jack things up by trying to do it on my own during the waiting. Daily I remind my self of the spiritual battle going on and wiggle down into my comfy peace that, "God's got this!" Some days that works and other day I'm a panicky mess, don't ask my hubs, he'll give ya the horror stories. hehe

Any how, about all these doors God is opening since saying Yes to this adventure:

  • a woman, we had never met before, who is committed {and I mean Committed!} to give us 1/3 of her already meager income
  • a partner church who is interested in helping plant autonomous churches
  • 100 folding chairs
  • friends who have a heart for church plants
  • friends who have a heart for the community we are going to minister
  • random jobs {never saw ourselves working} to offset our income
  • a radio interview {that came out of the blue} where I was able to share part of our story, as well as educate listeners on church planting and the de-churched
  • can lights, a projector and a screen Fo Free!
  • a couple churches who have committed to praying for us and/or financially supporting us
  • and tons of other things I've forgotten to mention

SEE UPDATE AT THE BOTTOM!

Things we are faithing God has in the works:

  • a space for The Valley to meet in weekly {praying for "The General", an old Dollar General in a store front}
  • people who will commit to being part of the leadership: ie. Financial Advisor, Worship Team, Administrator
    {UPDATE: we've had vocalist, drummer, and other musicans come talk with us recently!}
  • A passionate move of God like no other ever seen in Vilonia, AR where those who know Jesus catch fire and Salvation spreads across that community so ramped that no one can deny GOD is at work!

I haven't talked a whole lot about the logistics of what we're doing on here...mainly 'cause I don't know if you'll care Or what you really wanna know, already know, or could care less to know. Blow up the comment section or message me. I'd love to share more. If there is a lot of interest I'll even do an entire Q & A post for ya.

Speaking of which; Matt and I will be doing a question and answer session a One Church {Conway} on the evening of January 27th. If your interested in more info about this then ask away!

I've also provided a link to the interview I mentioned above if you'd like to hear it. It's an hour long program but you can skip ~15 minutes in to where my interview starts and of course fast-forward through the commercial breaks. My part of the interview is really only about 20 minutes.

Chasing After the De-Churched a radio interview with Vivienne McNeny

DownloadĀ HERE to Listen

UPDATE:

I wrote this last week and when it went live this morning my husband was in the process of picking up an old screen someone had donated only to find out that they were searching for more equipment items to bless us with. Thank you so much Mark Cox & Indian Springs BC for being Jesus through extravagant generosity! And the Fagan family for letting us borrow your ginormous covered trailer to hall it all in. AND to Pappa Dean for helping us pick it up {and for storing it until we get a space of our own!

God is so randomly Good. Just when we think we understand Him... waBam!

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And, if any of your readers out there in cyberspace happen to be in the Conway/Vilonia area:

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The Roth Babes’ Meeting

I LOVE my lil family!!!

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For those interested in getting some questions answered about this "Valley" thing, come see us!

For size comparison, check out the old school video I posted yesterday when we just had 'the girls' and were testing out our mad rapping skills ;o)

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Swagger Wagon {the Rothacher original}

So, the hubs and I LOVE being silly. We also love finding creative ways to tell people things. THIS is what we made about 2 and 1/2 years ago.

I just found this video as we were uploading our most resent video we made WITH all 3 of our kids.

THIS is what I found:

14,678 view and comments like:

THE BEST "Swagger Wagon" spinoff! - Well done! Along with the hard work and attention to detail - was original humor ( "Butt Paste! hilarious! ~ parents know what this is all about ) , and the fact you didn't rip off the original like most others on YouTube.

"Mommy Haircut! --- Big Poppa Gut"! I'm rolling on the floor!

GREAT JOB! šŸ™‚

Hope you enjoy my gift to you: higher self-esteem ;o)

Check in tomorrow for The Roth Babes' Meeting, a "promo video for The Valley's Q&A meeting".
CUTE even if you could care less about The Valley.

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when the shiny wears off…

So, this past weekend we decided to stay in Vilonia! Yay for in-laws with a ā€œsummer homeā€. Bahahaha

We laughed, we played, we cried. When all the shiny of a new space and toys stopped distracting my littles from the reality of an overnighter in a different home, the tears set in. Well, at least with the 4-year-old.

A minimum of 3 rounds of this little number was belted out in a sorrowful little girl voice {imagine the cadence of Dori "speaking whale" on Nemo}:

I am very SAD. I just want To go HOme. But I caaaaanā€™t. Itā€™s not really fair. I just want to go HOme but I CAnā€™t for a couple more days. I canā€™t have my own way or my own Bed. Itā€™s making me feel like I want to go Out of this room and go see my MomMy. I just want to go Homeā€ {continuing with some variation of the above}

I was quickly reminded that when the shiny of Church Planting begins to wear off, I may just wanna pack my crap and go home!

I donā€™t do well with change. I like my home. I donā€™t really wanna find a new home, sell Ā½ my junk, redecorate, pick new wall colors, reorganize a new space, find room for my growing kids stuff.

I donā€™t like not knowing the ins and outs of a new place. I liked that I finally found my way around town. I know people and places. I donā€™t have to always ask for directions or confess I have NO idea what/where someone is talking about.

I like thinking I know what Iā€™m doing and where Iā€™m going. I liked thinking Matt and I knew what we were doing in youth ministry. We knew how to draw a crowd. We were climbing ladders in youth organizations, camps, and making and name for ourselves around the state. {close friends-- stop laughing}

Godā€™s asking me to put on my big girl panties and be willing to at least pull an overnighter. TRUST Him. Heā€™s only got my best interest in mind. I can sing/cry all day long about how I just want to go home. I want my own bed. Itā€™s just not fair. But what I consider home is wrenched. I Really donā€™t want to lie in the bed Iā€™ve made myself. And I Reeeeally donā€™t want whatā€™s FAIR. Godā€™s so gracious.

Choosing to trust!

When I doā€¦I think I gonna realized this new plan is way more glorious an adventure than what I had in mind could have ever been!

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