Wordless Wednesday: Good Luck!!

A big GOOD LUCK goes out to Danny as he takes on a new challenge this weekend, the Cooper River Bridge Run.  Emerson and I will be cheering you on from the sidelines and waiting for you at the finish line!!  We are very proud of you!!

Birdie's Golf Clinic

As many of you know Birdie (my dad) is a golf pro and I grew up around golf my entire life, that's what happens when your dad's hobby becomes his profession.  My dad would tell anyone that, had I dedicated a bit more time to practicing, I would have been a pretty good golfer.  Not sure if that's the truth, or just a dad talking.  I, instead, opted for five-days-a-week in a dance studio practicing ballet, tap, jazz, and competitive dance.  I was petrified of competitive golf, something about being out there all by yourself with the pressure all on you.  Get up and dance in front of hundreds of people, no problem...drive a golf ball off a tee, while on-lookers critique your every swing, no thank you.  I even had a superstition about driving off the first tee.  I would never drive off the first tee because I didn't want the bag boys watching...it might have had something to do with the fact that they were cute, teen aged bag boys!!  I played golf on-and-off throughout high school and sometimes in college.  Although less during college because I couldn't play for free when I wasn't in Chapel Hill.  I took golf back up before I got pregnant with Emerson and really enjoyed spending good, quality time with Danny.  A few of us girls from the Admissions Office even took lessons one summer.  I got some new clubs and had the bug again, but then little Miss Priss started growing and my big prego belly wasn't the best tool when it came to a steady, balanced swing.  Sad-to-say, I'm not sure I've picked up a club since before she was born.  I do love golf and I'm hoping it can be something Danny and I can start to enjoy again together.

Anyway, Emerson has shown an early interest in golf, something Danny and my dad are ecstatic about.
Two weeks ago, my dad called and asked me if Emerson wanted to join his Friday golf clinic for the month of September.  He had an open spot and thought she might really enjoy it.  Because our afternoons aren't filled up enough with dance, soccer, and swim lessons...we agreed, besides it was only four Fridays.  So, last Friday (9/2/11) was Emerson's first lesson and she had a blast.  Being the helicopter mom I'm sure I'll end up being (or already am), I tagged along to take some pictures.

One of my absolute favorites from the day!!

The very cool clubs and accessories provided by SNAG Golf (Starting New At Golf).  These are really neat teaching tools for young golfers.

Waiting patiently for class to start.

A few rules before we begin.

The Teacher...pretty sure Emerson is the Teacher's Pet!!

Station instruction and showing how to correctly hit the ball.

What do I do with this thing?

This looks more like how Daddy and Birdie hold the club.

Still trying to figure out the grip.

Finally making some contact with the ball.

Birdie helping out his favorite student.

Trying her hand at putting.  Her grip still needs some work, but Birdie tells me contact with the ball is first; the grip comes second.

The class was for 4 - 7 year-olds and some of the older kids were hitting real clubs and golf balls with Mrs. Sally, the former UNC Women's Golf Coach and my dad's assistant for this clinic.  Emerson didn't want to miss out on the action, so she quickly weaseled her way out of SNAG golf practice and into "real" golf practice.

I can see it now....future LPGA Champion!!  (We can only hope!!)

Emerson was enthralled with the water cooler and cone cups.

Double-fisting her cone cup and her water bottle.

Not sure if we have the next Michelle Wie on our hands but if not, at least it's an activity the whole family can enjoy.  I see many family golf outings in our future!!  

Consignment Shopping

A couple of weeks ago my friend Nancy sent me her friends pass for the bi-annual Kids Everywear consignment sale.  I didn't cosign this time around, so I was so grateful to Nancy for sending me her pass. In the haste of life, I forgot to put the shop date on my calendar, and if it doesn't go on my calendar, I'm sure to forget about it....and I did!  But last night as I was going through a bunch of emails, I came across the original email from Nancy and decided I would head out today and try my luck at shopping the consignment sale.  I TOTALLY should have been working, catching up from being out last week, but that's why I took this new job, right?  The flexibility!!  So off I headed this morning at 9:50 am (in time for the 10:00 am opening) to find some good deals...just me, myself, and I.  Peace. Solitude. Lots of clothes and armed with a credit card.  Ahh, it's been awhile since I had two solid hours of uninterrupted shopping to myself.  Pure Bliss!!

So since most of you have only heard from me about the consigning side of these sales, I thought it would be nice to blog about the buying side (I do know a few things about buying clothes, right?).   I really don't have a strategy going into these sales, especially KidsEverywear because it is huge!  I usually head straight to the boutique rack and then to the regular racks.  Today, after the boutique rack I headed straight to the size 5 racks (explanation later).

(sorry for the photo quality, these were taken with my Droid)

Secretly taking a picture of the size 5 racks!!

After I finished the daunting size 5 row, I rounded the corner to see this.....both sides were size 4.  I decided to opt out and realized my basket was pretty full.  So I started the task of keeping and eliminating, and after making a few hard decisions on what to put back, I was finished shopping and very happy with all my finds.

Check out all the clothes!!!

All in a good day's SALE!!

Here's a run down of my loot from the day:

3 skirts/skorts

3 dresses

5 tops

4 pairs of shorts

3 pairs of capris

2 matching outfits (with bonus bow)

1 jean jacket

1 dance outfit

1 warm-up outfit for our expected new neighbor Bryce

23 items

Total Spent - $128.22

Skirts and Dresses

The pink and aqua skirts were each $1.00 a piece....I couldn't pass that up, especially since they were still in great condition.  The skirt in the middle still had the tags on it, granted it's Target but it was half of what I would have paid in the store.  And, I can't wait to show you what I have planned for the three dresses....so cute!  I feel a craft project (and blog) in my future!!

The Tops

Four of these tops still had the tags on them

Shorts and Capris

I am so ready for short and capri weather now, love the details on the pink shorts and capris....who doesn't love turtles and flamingos?!?!

My favorite purchase from today...so cute and they have Emerson written all over them.  They literally screamed, "Buy Me" from the rack!!

Outfit Sets

How cute are these two outfits sets.   I'm still a sucker for a set and check it out, one of the sets came with a bonus hair bow...SCORE!!!

Miscellaneous

A dance dress, a jean jacket (although it's way too big for this year, it will go in the back of the closet for next year), and a cute outfit for Mr. Bryce, who will arrive in April.

All the Loot!!!

What I've learned from shopping consignment sales:

1. If your child wears a 3T, then shop in the 4T section.  If your child wears a 4T, then shop in the 5T section - hence always shop one or two sizes above your current size because people wash and dry the dickens out of their clothing.

2. I'm sure this will come as a shock to you all, but I am pretty particular when it comes to clothes and this makes it, sometimes, difficult to shop the sales.

3. People's taste in clothing is always shocking, err, different than mine, but to each his own, right??

4. People must stock pile their clothes for years, because there was clothing there today from when I was 5 years old. If it isn't in fashion people, don't bring it to the sale.  (Although, back to #3, someone will probably buy it!). 

5. People are really proud of their really worn, super shrunk, stained Gymboree outfits (or any other brand).  People, if I can buy it in the store NEW for $15, why would I buy it from you stained and faded for $14.  

6. Take something to carry clothes in.  Kids Everywear actually offers you a clothes bin, but they could run out if there are tons of people, so always take an extra bag to put clothes in so you don't end up with shopping fingers (not the technical term, but it's a real thing folks!!). 

7. When going through each rack, always pull everything you think you might want to buy and then go back through everything at the end.  If you don't do this, then when you go back to find an earlier item, It. Will. Most. Certainly. Be. Gone!!

8. Always ask your husband how much he thinks you spent, more than likely it will look like a lot and he will estimate high, so when you tell him the real total, he will be pleasantly surprised. 

9. Always have fun trying the clothes on your little one and talking about how cute they are, she'll never know they weren't new (and probably wouldn't care anyways)!

Happy Shopping, Y'all!!!

Show-and-Tell #32 - Disney Princess Camera

I apologize for not getting this out sooner, my computer crashed on Saturday and I am still without it.  The nerve of my IT guy to have his baby the same day my computer crashed....sheesh, some people (ha, ha)!  Luckily I have been supplied with a loaner, but since it isn't mine and doesn't have all capabilities that my other computer had, I am keeping pictures and blogging to a minimum.  But I thought I could, at least, get a couple of short blogs out. 

Last Friday Emerson decided she wanted to take her Disney Princess camera to school.  Emerson is very interested in taking pictures right now and I am not brave enough to let her hold my fancy camera JUST YET.  So she uses this camera that she got for Christmas in her Disney package and she takes pictures of everything in our house; Danny, Me, Hogan, her dolls, her toys, her chair, everything.  Each time she takes a picture, the camera talks back with one of several different phrases: "How Beautiful!!", "Oh, you look wonderful!", "Say Cheese!", "You're as pretty as a princess!", and, of course, "Smile!".   Hopefully soon I can get Emerson her own small camera and she can start to take real pictures.  Hopefully she will enjoy taking pictures as much as her mom does.

Show-and-Tell #32

Disney Princess Camera

April 9, 2010