Consignment Shopping for Kids

     So, its no secret I LOVE to shop. I have loved the 'thrill of the hunt' my whole life. Dressing my kiddos is a whole new level of fun for me and I loooooove shopping for them and dressing them up. As Charlie is getting older, he likes to pick out his own clothes more and more, but Madeline still loves me to fill her closet with pretties and often has several 'wardrobe changes' per day (my kind of gal). 

     Part of what I enjoy most about shopping for kids' clothing is finding serious deals, and when it comes to kids' clothing, there seriously are some MAJOR deals to be had. I started shopping at kids' consignment sales and shops a few years back and it's been by far the best way to get gorgeous clothing for a fraction of the price.

Once Upon a Child

     A Once Upon a Child consignment shop opened in my area last year and y'all...... it. is. AWESOME. They carry great brands and while their everyday prices are FANTASTIC, the real deals to be had are during their special events. This past weekend, they had a grab bag event where you bring your own bag, fill it with as much clearance merchandise as it can hold, and they take 90% off the entire bag. Yes, NINETY. 

     This entire pile of clothing, all high end brands like Matilda Jane, Hanna Andersson, Hannah Kate,  Splendid, and more (some NWT!) was $7. Total.  (No, you did not read that wrong. Seven bucks.)

My haul from the grab bag sale this past weekend - I can't wait to see my princess in all of her new outfits!

     Be sure to sign up for your local shops' (whether it be OUAC store or another chain or standalone shop) event notification emails because some of these events, like the grab bag one I went to this weekend, are incredible. I am looking forward to grabbing a girlfriend and heading to this upcoming dress event to grab some dresses for my mini:

Staying on top of the events calendar is key for saving a TON

Just Between Friends

    The Just Between Friends consignment sales are huge long-weekend warehouse-style sales that happen seasonally all over the country. My local ones are twice yearly- once in the spring and once in the fall. They have tons and tons of stuff to pick from in a huge range of sizes plus lots of toys, too. My strategy for these is that I go on the last day only, right when they open. On the last day, everything is an additional 50% off, making most of the items crazy affordable. I've gotten brand new Gap clothes for Charlie and a brand-new-with-tags designer smocked dress for Miss Maddie for under a dollar a piece. 

     If you volunteer to work the sale, you also get special early access. I have never done this but some people swear by this strategy, too, especially if they are looking for particular items/brands.

Local Church / School Sales

    If you keep your eyes on your local "Mom groups" on Facebook, you'll often see information for upcoming consignment sales held at churches and schools. Usually a portion of the proceeds benefits the church/school, which is an awesome way to not only score some deals, but also help support local organizations in your own community. 

Consignment Instagram Accounts

    In true millenial-Mom style, some of the best consignment sellers are actually on the 'gram! My favorite of them all is Fancy Sprouts Kids' Consignment (Insta account: @fancysproutsrva); Megan does an awesome job maintaining this account and offers great, barely-used merchandise. I got Charlie some Philadelphia Eagles apparel that he wears basically every other day from her shop. Instagram accounts like hers are definitely another super easy way to find stylish bargains!

Have you shopped consignment for your kids before?? What are some of your best finds? I'd love to hear all about your experiences! ♥

Our Favorite Kids' Brands

When I was a new Mom, I knew NADA about shopping for kids' clothing. It's definitely been something I have learned along the way, and if you know me IRL, you know that I love the thrill of the hunt. I thought I would compile a few of our favorite brands to share with our new parent friends or anyone looking for some kid-clothing-inspo:

Hanna Andersson: Often referred to as "Happy Hannas," the Hanna Andersson jammies are THE BEST. The quality is unmatched and the signature stripes are so classic and easy to coordinate for sibling sets. I buy gender-neutral so they can be passed down and after two kids, all of our Hanna Jams are still going strong and look good-as-new. The cotton is so soft and they are extra comfy. They have frequent sales and can be found on Zulily from time to time, too.

 Itty Bitty Char Char sleeping in his Hanna jams

Newborn Maddie in her Happy Hannas that were once Charlie's

The Beaufort Bonnet Co: OK, this one is a major splurge. Truthfully, I only buy TBBC during their twice yearly (Nov & May) "Pink Party" Sale. Their items are simply stunning and the pima cotton is so soft. I love the saying "Let them be little" and the sweet, timeless bubbles, john-johns, dresses, and bonnets that TBBC makes are just the most precious children's things ever. Maddie loves her play dresses from TBBC and I love how sweet they look on her.

 Maddie's fav TBBC 'quack quack' dress

When given a choice, she always picks her special 'ducky' dress

Lands' End: Growing up, my Mom always got our winter coats at Lands' End and now I know why. The quality is great and their stuff lasts and lasts through multiple kiddos. I've found some great jackets, rash guards, and basics on their website. They run amazing sales, too, if you hit the right timing. I ordered Charlie's lunch box from Lands' End for preschool and was super impressed with the quality.

Wal-Mart: Real Talk - I am a mama who loves Wal-Mart. In the town where I went to college, Wal-Mart was basically our only option for......anything. Haha. Some of my kids favorite everyday things have come from Wal-Mart. The Wonder Nation and Garanimals brands have great basics at crazy low prices. Before I had kids, I swore I would never get the tacky character stuff. Well, when you see the joy on your kid's face when he gets a Paw Patrol pajama set? Game over. The cheesy WalMart character jammies will run you about $7 bucks a pair and the joy they bring is priceless. They hold up surprisingly well, too, for seven bucks.

Carter's: Carter's has some of the cutest little designs for kids. Their fleece zip-up (a zipper is key for the middle-of-the-night diaper changes) sleepers are awesome and were truly staples during each of my kids' first years of life. They also make super cute everyday outfits that are actually so fun I wish they came in adult sizes!

The Carter's fleece sleepers are beyond cozy! 

Baby Maddie in a Carter's sleeper- simply delish!

Cat & Jack: The Cat & Jack line at Target is absolutely adorable. I love their swim suits and rash guards, especially, and they have some adorable outfits that hold up really well after several washes. Two of my closest girlfriends swear their boys' pants hold up SO much better than others so I recently ordered some for the Fall that I can't wait to see on Charlie!

This Cat & Jack jacket is a perfect color for spotting my boy on the playground

Crocs: My kids looooove their Crocs shoes and I love that they can get them on and off easily and by themselves. My sweet girlfriend passed down a pair of Crocs to baby Charlie when he was newly walking, and ever since we have been fans. They are easy to clean, super versatile, and my kids both think they are super comfy. The ankle strap helps keep them in place which is great for little feet new to walking. Maddie loves her Frozen/Elsa Crocs so much.

These two LOVE their Crocs

iPlay: This is a brand I often get on Amazon but I think several large chains carry iPlay, too. Their reusable swim diapers that double as bathing suit bottoms are SO cute while also being environmentally friendly. I also love their swim tees and hats- the sun protection they offer seems great and everything we have from this brand has held up great through multiple swims and washes. Their price point is also excellent!

An iPlay swim diaper with a Carter's rashguard + hat = perfect beach attire

Consignment: I LOVE a good deal, especially on children's clothing. They grow so fast so it seems silly to overspend on something that may only be worn a handful of times. My favorite 'local' sale is Just Between Friends which is held all over the country seasonally (Insider tip: the last day of each sale weekend is "half off" day- I have gotten gorgeous outfits for under a dollar. Unreal!). One Upon a Child is also an awesome consignment chain with stores all over - they have great deals on some awesome brands, too! I have found some of our very favorite items at consignment sales/shops at incredible prices.

This sweet little dress was 50 cents at a consignment sale- amazing!

What brands do y'all love for the kiddos in your lives?? I'd love to hear where you find some of your favorite kids' clothing!

Happy Monday, friends!

Things we LOVE

There are a few random things we are absolutely LOVING in the Snee house at the moment, so I figured I would share in case any of y'all might enjoy, too!

1. The Step2 Kid Alert Outdoor / Driveway Boundary Net: I ordered this a few weeks ago when I realized the kids were playing outside more and more with the nicer weather. I admittedly am always a tad anxious about safety, and although our street has little to no traffic, our driveway is steep and Maddie is still a little unsure of boundaries. I situated it on our driveway to block the kiddos in and so far I love the boundary it has created.  Charlie sometimes thinks it's a soccer goal but so far it has done the trick in terms of keeping kids, balls, and toys in the backyard.

                               

2. Rothy's: Like pretty much every other suburban Mom on the East Coast, I am obsessed with my Rothy's. My Mom gifted me a pair for my birthday last year and they are hands-down the most comfortable, versatile shoes I own. I love them and wear them with black pants, jeans, skirts- basically everything! I have the round-toe flats a half size up and they are The. Perfect. Shoe. 

In fact, Maddie can often be found traipsing around the house in my Rothy's- a fashionista knows a good shoe when she sees one.

3. Kodiak Protein-Packed Power Waffles: So.....I wake up hangry pretty much every day. I am NOT a breakfast-skipper and neither is my Maddie. We usually share a couple of waffles with peanut butter on top right after we wake up. I recently tried the Kodiak protein waffles for an extra bit of protein and OMG You Guys- I will never be able to have an Eggo again. They are de-lish and one of these with a spread of creamy natural PB will definitely hold you over until lunch. Such an easy, quick, and yummy weekday breakfast!

4. Nothing Bundt Cakes: While we are on the subject of yummy noms, I have to mention these little slices of heaven. They just opened a few locations of Nothing Bundt Cakes in our area and I am definitely a fan-girl. They are sooo good and definitely an indulgence. The icing is just so insanely decadent. The Snee house is currently split on their feelings regarding N.B.C. - Charlie and Mommy LOVE a little bundt but Daddy and Maddie aren't huge fans. I have a feeling this could be something that we overdo and then get sick of, but for now they are a fav treat.

5. The Belly Button Book: My BFF Maggie recently sent The Belly Button Book by Sandra Boynton to Charlie and Maddie and they cannot get enough of it. We read it at least three times a day and it is just the cutest book. Sandra Boynton has a lot of cute and silly board books, but this one will definitely be our top read for a long time. It is super cute and lots of fun to read.

6. Magnatiles: Tim's parents gifted these to the kiddos for Christmas and they play with them for hours on end. Our little engineers absolutely love their Magnatiles and as parents we love that they encourage creative play. Charlie loves building a garage for his monster trucks with them. We honestly stopped even putting these away every day because they play with them alllllllll the time- seriously one of the best toys for kids of many ages.

7. Justin's Peanut Butter Cups: OK back to food........ If you have not tried these, you are not living your best life. These little PB cups are insanely delish. And totally healthy, amiright?! OK maybe not, but so delish. I keep them in the fridge because I'm weird like that. Try it...soooo good.

8. Keds: If you were a child of the 80s, you most definitely had Keds with the signature blue label on the back. I recently came across some adorable toddler mary-jane Keds for Maddie and in a fit of nostalgia HAD to have them. For her. Haha. They are so darn precious and match all of her cute outfits. I foresee her having these in many sizes because they are just the absolute sweetest shoes for a little girl.

                                 

9. Matching Monograms: I am a total sucker for a monogram, so when you add in matching outfits... I. Am. Dead. I mean...does it get any cuter?!? My Mom recently found these matching outfits at Marley Lilly and had them monogrammed for CWS and MDS. I cannot get over the sweetness. I fully intend on dressing them like this for as long as they let me. Beyond cute!

10. Sixers Basketball: I cannot finish this post without mentioning my guys' love for their Philadelphia 76ers. Charlie and Tim are huge Joel Embiid fans and love watching the Sixers playoff run together. Charlie even has a teddy bear named Sixer- true fans for life!

                                       

XOXO,

The Snee Fam