Smarty Sponsor: The Beanstalk

By Amie Blanks, The Beanstalk

By far, the worst part of watching your little babies grow older is knowing that, at some point, you simply won’t be able to find clothes for them at consignment sales. Am I right? It’s enough to make any mom run into her room, slam the door and scream to your family that you are NEVER … COMING … OUT!

Well, like John Cusack holding up his boom box in “Say Anything,” The Beanstalk on Hawthorne Road is shouting about its sale specifically for children (child’s size 6 through juniors and young men’s). No longer will you have to push your way through aisles of strollers, high chairs and bouncy-springy-swingy seats and toys – only to be disappointed upon arrival at the clothing racks.

Sale dates are Friday, August 27, and Saturday, August 28 (perfect for back-to-school). Pre-Sale opens Thursday evening to Consignors and Volunteers.

I should know: as the mother of three rapidly growing girls, I’ve too often left my favorite sales feeling like my next stop should be the mall – where I’ll pay a lot more for a lot less.


Those same great deals you loved when they were babies and toddlers can now be found at The Beanstalk, 1315 S. Hawthorne Road. Winston-Salem, NC 27103. (Intersection of Hawthorne and Knollwood).

In addition to incredible deals on clothing, accessories and décor for big kids, tweens and teens, some exciting mompreneurs will be joining us at the sale. Be sure to say hello to Monkey Hooper, PB and J Photography and Litldesi9s.

So you know, consignors earn 70% of their items sold, must consign at least 15 items and pay a $10 fee for facility rental and advertising. Consigning Volunteers earn 75%. For more info and to register, please visit www.TheBeanStalkSale.com.


Register early as a Consignor or Volunteer and The Beanstalk will enter your name for the chance to win 100% Of your Items Sold or a 50% Off coupon for your purchases! Plus, for every person you refer, you’ll receive an additional entry into the contest.

Stop by The Beanstalk August 27th and 28th and, whether you come as a Consignor, Volunteer, Shopper or combination of all three, we’ll look forward to seeing you there!

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Smarty Alert: Vote for Your Favorite Consignment Sale!

By Katie M

Its about time that sale organizers were rewarded for their hard efforts!! This spring, the ConsignmentMommies community (from www.ConsignmentMommies.com) will vote for their favorite consignment sales in 18 feature cities for a chance at "Best Sale In {insert city here}!" Winning sales will receive a coveted "Best Sale" badge, press attention and bragging rights in their city!

Details on contest rules can be found on www.ConsignmentMommies.com. The Best Consignment Sale Awards began on April 1, 2010. You can vote for sales until 4:00 PM ET on April 15, 2010. At that time voting will close. All winners will be announced on May 3, 2010. Badges will awarded at that time.

Cast your vote today!!!

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Smarty Sponsor: Upscale Resale

By Guest Blogger, Toni Carpenter

Upscale Resale is coming to Greensboro!
You are invited to a unique consignment experience in Greensboro! We offer upscale, finer children's clothing, shoes & accessories in excellent condition from boutiques & trunk shows and your favorite European brands like Mini Boden!

Also.....Introducing NEW 'Tween to Teen Sizes 12 and UP! All your favorite brands... Seven for All Mankind, Aeropostale, 77Kids, Abercrombie, Rainbow, Reef, Roxy, the North Face & more! This age group has been overlooked and we want to change that!

April 8-10th
The Village at North Elm
*in the old Rolly's building
303H Pisgah Church Rd.
Greensboro, NC

The preview Sale for consignors & volunteers only is Thursday evening, April 8th.
The public Sale is Friday, April 9th from 9am-5pm and Saturday, April 10th from 9am-1pm.(select items are reduced 50% off on Sat)

Consignors earn 70% of the sale price minus an $8 consignor fee to cover advertising & facility rental. Plus, consignors only need a minimum of 10 items to consign! Volunteer shifts start at 3 hours.
To shop, sell, volunteer or promote your business, contact us at www.UpscaleResale4kids.com.

We love to support Mompreneurs and will be hosting Lit'l Desi9s and Spooneez!

Christa Evans of Cary, NC has been shopping, consigning & volunteering with Upscale Resale in Cary since the beginning in 2007. Here's what she had to say, "I love shopping at Upscale Resale and never miss it! Toni, the owner, is very accessible and friendly. Everything is well organized from the process of consigning your items to shopping the sale. I love knowing that each piece is looked over and in exceptional condition. I always love the shoe selection at Upscale Resale because you can get Stride Rite & L'Amour for a steal! It's a wonderful opportunity to sell your treasures and find new ones!"

Upscale Resale was born in the summer of 2007 from of a love of stylish children’s clothing and consignment sales. After frequently shopping at boutiques, two stay at home moms decided their good taste far exceeded their budget! In an effort to pass along the outgrown designer clothing and earn some extra spending money, the two friends formed Upscale Resale. Come & shop with us and see what we're all about! We're looking forward to meeting you!


If you are unsure how to leave a comment below, click here to find out the simple steps!

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Triad Consignment Sales Are Here!

By Rachel H and Guest Blogger Chrissy Freeman

We quickly learned last year that moms in the Triad are ALL ABOUT some consignment sales! There are so many from which to choose, and they kick off this weekend! We enlisted the help of Consigning Chrissy for this blog! Chrissy has a fabulous website called consignmentmommies.com where she provides readers with everything they need to know about area consignment sales. Below, Chrissy has written a terrific blog for us on "12 Steps to Becoming A Consignment Diva" and also has Triad area sales listed along with links for info. Please share your sale at the end of the blog if it is not already listed and be sure to contact Chrissy at me@chrissyfreeman.com so she can add your sale to her oh-so-smarty website!

12 Steps to Becoming A Consignment Diva
By Chrissy Freeman

I’ll admit, I can sometimes be “picky” about things. So when I got pregnant and my mom stocked her own personal nursery with consignment sale finds, I was skeptical. And then, I went to my first sale. And my second. And my third. I was quickly addicted. Not only was the selection exponentially better than what I was finding at Target, Carters and Baby Gap, but it was a great green approach, the toy & clothing quality was surprising and of course, the prices were great.

Over the seasons, I’ve learned from other “Consigning Mommies” and thought I’d share some tips on channeling your inner Consignment Diva.

For Consignors:

#1: Clean Out Your Closets & Start Labeling! The benefits are two-fold. First, you’ll get some extra closet space. Second, you’ll get the added benefits of early shopping at most sales. And that means you’ll get your hands on the best items before the crowds!

#2: Presentation is Everything: Break out the iron and press all of your clothes and some toys, if necessary. It'll hide a bit of the pilling as well :)

#3: The Price is Right: Most people agree that the best pricing strategy is about 1/3 of what you paid retail for an item.

#4: Add Notes on Sizing: If something fits like a 12 month item, but is labeled 18 months, make a note and make sure it is placed in the 12 month area. Items often get left hanging because they look too big / small in their sections.

#5: Read Your Consigning Instructions Twice: Every sale is a bit different so don't miss the opportunity to sell because you didn't follow directions!


For Shoppers:

#6: Consider Volunteering: If you can’t part with your clothes and toys just yet, volunteer with your favorite sale. You’ll get in early and get the best finds!

#7: Man Your Troops: Let’s face it, shopping in packs is much more fun! You might need a second opinion on whether that $2 green dress is really cute or just really cheap! Plus, with so many sales in the area, you’ll never make it to all of them… but your friends just might! Spread the word on items you are looking for and help a friend in return.

#8: Pre-Game: While the hubs is gearing up for March madness, get to those closets and start your pre-game attack by taking inventory. I always have a list of basics I need and then “perfect match” items that I need to complete an outfit. Whether you have a formal list or just do a mental scan, you should always have an idea on what is in your current inventory!

#9: Bring a Tote: There’s nothing more back breaking then carrying armloads of clothes and toys around. Bring a rolling suitcase, rolling tote or a laundry basket with a belt tied around it so you can pile up your selections.

#10: Look High, Look Low: As we all know, children’s sizing can be all over the place! Look in the sizes immediately above and below your child’s size so you don’t miss something spectacular. I always have “perfect fit” pieces (a cotton top & bottom with perfect length) in my bag to compare against pieces with questionable sizing. You may also want to shop for next season. There may be a STELLAR deal on a beautiful boutique dress for the perfect price!

#11: Gather Like Crazy, Then Filter: When shopping, I first grab everything that catches my eye. Then, I find a corner and filter my selections. This is where having a buddy is helpful. My mom always brings me back to reality… “do I really need ANOTHER pair of khaki pants?” Once you’ve filtered, return your pieces and do another quick sweep to catch what other moms have returned.

#12: Map Out the Sales: There’s a ton of sales in the area, so make sure to map out your plan of attack and compare notes with your friends. Below is a list of sales in the area, but you can also search by zip and view ratings & reviews at ConsignmentMommies.com.




Triad Area Consignment Sales

Feb 12-14
Wee Runs Consignment Sale – High Point

Feb 19- 21
Wee Runs Consignment Sale – High Point

Feb 25-27
Children's Boutique Resale - Winston-Salem
*Also read our blog on the CBR here.
Fellowship Day School @ Fellowship Presbyterian Church – Greensboro
KidShare at the Dixie Classic Fairgrounds – Winston-Salem

Mar 4-6
Christ United Methodist Church – Greensboro
Cornerstone Christian Church - MOPS – Mocksville
First Presbyterian Church - Greensboro
Friendly Ave Baptist Church – Greensboro
Lewisville United Methodist Church
Mt. Tabor United Methodist Church – Winston-Salem
St. Paul's Catholic Church Sale – Greensboro
Summerfield United Methodist Church

March 12-14
Christ Community Church Consignment Sale – Greensboro
Clemmons West Children's Clothing and Toy Sale
Covenant Church UMC – High Point
Fairview Moravian Church – Winston-Salem
First Christian Academy & Preschool – Kernersville
Glennview Baptist Church – Winston-Salem
Grace Presbyterian Church - Kernersville
Greensboro Mothers of Multiples Spring/Summer Children's Consignment Sale
Shady Grove Wesleyan Church – Colfax
Trinity Church of Greensboro

March 15-21
Ardmore United Methodist Church Preschool – Winston-Salem
Bethlehem Angels Preschool
Kid2Kid Burlington
Main Street United Methodist Church – Kernersville
Parkway Presbyterian Church - Twin City Mothers of Multiples

April 15-17
Northwest Baptist Church
West Market Street UMC & Early Childhood Center Home & Closet Sale – Greensboro

Don't forget to register to win $25 gift cards (plus $25 gift cards for each of your three girlfriends) to shop at Beverly Hills on Main and Harry Smidgepodge in Jamestown! Click here to get all the scoop, and to register. The winner will be randomly picked on Friday, Feb. 11 and announced Feb. 14. Good luck, Smarties!

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Smarty Scoop on Weekend Events

By Guest Blogger Kari A and Katie M

It’s time to get ready for the Spring 2010 Children's Boutique Resale, Winston Salem's only boutique clothing consignment sale! The sale started a few years ago when Kari Allison, a local mom, thought she might earn a little more for her boutique clothing. Apparently, she wasn't the only one having these thoughts, and thus CBR was born. We are excited to feature this Smarty Sponsor today!

If you are a mom with that awesome combination of frugalista and fashionista, this bi-annual consignment phenomenon is for you! It’s all of the thrill, less of the hunt! And it's all fabulous! At the Children's Boutique Resale (CBR) you will find many wonderful boutique and designer brands of clothing. Your children can grow like fashionable little weeds without comprising the budget! Our motto is: Wear it. Love it. Pass it on!

For more information on CBR along with dates and times, keep reading!

We pride ourselves on making the consignment sale convenient and profitable for consignors. There are no registration fees, no shifts to work (unless desired) and you can shop early at our preview sale. Our goal is to serve you better each season, so with the new year comes growth and changes! We have modified our tagging and payment proccess and we have streamlined our checkout. No long lines!We are also very proud to support local mompreneurs. We have several vendors lined up for our spring sale. You won't want to miss the unique boutique products found here.

Whether you’re a shopper or a consigner, we encourage you to visit the website for more details. Below are dates and times:

Spring Sale
Friday, February 26th, 2010 - 9am until 2pm
Saturday, February 27th, 2010 - 9am until 2pm

Clothing Drop Off
Wednesday, February 24th, 2010 - 9 until 2pm and 4pm-7pm

Consignors Only Preview
Thursday, February 25th, 2010 - 6pm until 8pm

And for the rest of this week's smarty scoop, keep reading!

St. Francis Day School Open House
Wednesday, January 27 from 9:30- 11:30
3506 Lawndale Drive, GSO
Phone: 336-288-4740, Director: Rae Augustin
Be sure to check out what why this school is considered Smarty-Approved!

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Thursday-Saturday 8 p.m.; Sunday 2 p.m.
Twin City Stage, 610 Coliseum Drive, W-S
A musical comedy about six young people struggling with puberty in a spelling championship where the contestants learn that winning isn't everything and that losing doesn't necessarily make you a loser. Adults, $22; students, $18.

Half-Price Friday Nights
Friday, January 29 at 5-8 p.m.
Greensboro Children's Museum, 220 N. Church St., GSO
All families welcome for a night of fun at a discounted admission of $3.

Kids Krafters Club
Friday, January 29 from 3:30-4:45 p.m.
ArtQuest, Green Hill Center for NC Art, 200 N. Davie St., GSO
Twice-monthly workshops for kids who want to get crafty. For ages 7 and up. Registration required. Some workshops may require an additional materials fee. Members, $3; non-members, $5.

Multi-lingual Storytime
Friday, January 29 at 11 am
Children's Museum of Winston-Salem, 390 S. Liberty St., W-S
Learn about other cultures and listen to other languages in these storytimes. Presented by the Forsyth County Public Libraries. Free with museum admission, $7.

Legends in the Lodge
Saturday, January 30 from 7 - 9 pm
Piedmont Environmental Center, 1220 Penny Road, HP
Bring the family for storytelling time in the tipi at PEC. A storyteller will spin tales of Coyote, Grandfather Rock, Hero Twins and more. Special ceremonies and traditions will be shared and interpreted. Refreshments around the tipi campfire. Pre-registration required. Members, $4; non-members,$5.

NC High School Cheerleading State Championships
Saturday, January 30 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 2825 University Parkway, W-S
Adults, $10; students, $5; ages 5 and under, free.

Books Alive: Puzzled Penguin
Saturday, January 30 at 10:30 am
Lewisville Library, 6490 Shallowford Rd, Lewisville
Books come alive at the Lewisville Library the last Saturday of every month. Every session starts at 10:30 a.m. with a two minute actor's warm-up, followed by reading the selected book of the month, and then kids get on their feet and learn by doing. K - 3rd graders will enjoy this interactive program. Cost: FREE

The 3rd Annual Big Game Chili Cook-off
Saturday, January 30 at Noon
Whole Foods Market 41 Miller Street, Winston-Salem
At the Annual Chili Cook-off each department teams up to create an all-natural, champion chili and the customers are the judges. The winning department receives a trophy, bragging rights for the entire year and their prized chili to be sold at the hot soup bar. Customers who cast their vote for their favorite recipe will be entered for a chance to win a $50 Whole Foods Market gift card*. Prizes will also be awarded for the correct answers to the Big Game (Super Bowl) Trivia. Wear the football jersey of your favorite team, get some great ideas for the Big Game, and share in the fun festivities. *Please visit Customer Service, the day of the event, for the official rules and conditions of The 3rd Annual Big Game Chili Cook-off. Cost: FREE

Lincoln Financial ArtQuest Community Arts Sundays
Sunday, January 31 from 3 - 5 pm
ArtQuest, Green Hill Center for N.C. Art, 200 N. Davie St., GSO
Each month on designated Sundays, ArtQuest features arts and crafts activities of cultures from around the world. A hands-on art gallery. Members, free; non-members, $2.50.

Burkhead Preschool Open House
Monday, February 1 from 6 - 7 pm
Burkhead Preschool, 5250 Silas Creek Pkway, W-S
Are you or someone you know looking for just the right preschool? Come check out Burkhead Preschool's Open House. There will be childcare and a light supper provided during this open house event. And see why this school is considered Smarty-Approved! For more information about our preschool and our open house click the web site link above, and then click on the “application” button to find the information about the Open House. The preschool asks that you help in planning by calling or emailing ahead to let them know you are coming. Phone: 765-6590. Email: director@burkheadpreschool.net.

Open House at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic School
Tuesday, February 2 from 9 am to 12 pm.
Our Lady of Mercy Catholic School, 1730 Link Road, W-S
Our Lady of Mercy is SACS accredited and enrollment is available for grades Pre-K to 8 for the 2010/2011 school year. Come visit a school with over 50 years of academic excellence. The exceptional faculty is dedicated to helping children reach their highest potential with exemplary achievements through balanced curriculum in academics, national test scores, athletics, extra curricular activities, community service, art, and music. Call 722-7204 for a student led tour available by appointment throughout the school year. And see why this school is considered Smarty-Approved!

Forget Me Not Photography's Cutest Kid Contest
We want to celebrate our success, and more importantly its time for us to give back!!! With the success of the studio, and now the launch of Forget Me Not Boutique (officially opening at the beginning of March), we want to do something to say thank you! We are ready, and now able to give back to our community and have chosen a very special way to do that. We are hosting a cutest kid contest and donating 100% (yes that's right!) of the session proceeds for this contest to the FSNCC. What is the FSNCC? An awesome children's charity, located right here in the Triad! The Family Support Network of Central Carolina is an organization which serves families whose children have special needs or who are born prematurely. For more details on this contest that runs through the month of February, click here.

What did we forget? Add your event below!

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