Blog Deal Day

Believe it or not, we are heading towards the end of our winter season. It is almost time for us to start putting out our spring and summer clothing. So here is this month's

Blog Deal Day

25% off all sweaters and sweater vests

Tuesday, December 29th

Just let us know you saw it on the blog. And we wish you all a very Happy New Year and, in fact, a very happy new decade!

Last Minute Holiday Gifts!

Left the holiday shopping until last minute? Or maybe you need to even out the number of gifts for each child? Perhaps you forgot that you needed a gift for your step-mother's brother's child. And don't forget to fill up those stockings! Take a look at what we have in stock:

*Brand new Melissa & Doug Puzzles and Food Sets
*Rokenbok Systems and Control Pad
*Alex Letter and Number Bath Stickers
*Alex Best Friend Band Bracelet Kits
*Battat Wood Activity Cube
*Little People Market, Dollhouse, & Circus
*Redbox Toy Hospital Set
*Scratch Magic Mini-Pads
*Kooky Pens and Monkey Pens
*Little Tikes Tool Bench
*Train Table with 3 Bins
*Heart Beat Bear
*Scholastic Skill Starter Notebook
*New Tonka Pods
*Talking Tigger, Elmo, and Spiderman Dolls
*Hand and Finger Puppets
*Princess Dress-up Skirts, Boas, Tiaras, and Wings
*Cowboy and Pirate Hats
*Diva Hats and Gloves
*Kazoos, Recorders, and Shakey Eggs
*Melissa & Doug Fashion Fun Stencil Sets and Prince & Magnetic Dress-Up Sets
*And Much More!

Everyone at
Grow With Me
would like to wish all of you a very happy holidays!

Travelling Over the Holidays?

Travelling with young children over the holidays to see friends and relatives is exciting for children. But it can be difficult and tiring for everyone. Here are well-tested travel tips to make it all go a little smoother:

--If you are travelling by car, leave about an hour before naptime. Then you get an hour before nap, naptime, and maybe an hour of driving after the nap before you have to stop if you are lucky. Or alternatively, leave an hour before bedtime and drive through the night. One warning: don't drive through the night if your child doesn't sleep well at night. That can be disastrous. Believe me, I've been there!

--Stop for a meal and then stop separately for dessert. Then you can say, "If you can both sit back there without hurting each other for another hour, we will get you some dessert."

--If you can stop at one of those McDonald's with a play area all the better because then those little wiggly worms can work out some of their energy.

--If you are travelling by plane, do not schedule to fly during nap or bedtime if at all possible unless you have a baby. Your child will very likely be too excited to sleep because they are going on a plane, but they will be tired enough to have a tantrum every five minutes.

--If you have a baby, get a seat by the bulkhead and reserve a bassinet. And the bulkhead is also good if you have a toddler and a long flight. They can play on a blanket in the extra space. Otherwise, don't get a bulkhead seat because you can't stow your stuff under the seat in front of you and you will be getting up every few minutes to pull down the bag to retrieve whatever item your antsy child wants next.

--Nurse or give your baby a bottle on take-off and landing to help relieve the pressure in their ears or be sure to bring some gum for children old enough to chew it. Gum is so much fun!

--Either by plane or car, buy a bunch of small, inexpensive toys at resale shops (Grow With Me, for instance) and hide them away. Wrap them up if you have time and then give them something new every half hour or so during the trip. They will be so happy and so will you!

--Make sure you have more than enough snacks, diapers, and a change of clothing for everyone (with you on the plane if you are flying). I'm not kidding about this one. Imagine that you are on a short one hour flight and assume you don't need these extra clothes. Now imagine baby having a huge blowout poop all over your lap during that short one hour trip! Need I say more? You can grab something out of our weekend dollar bins for that extra travel outfit.

--Bring a portable dvd player with you or laptop computer. Then, if you don't already have one, buy a cd/dvd case and stuff it full of videos and music. We have a good selection of both here at the store. Oh, and if you have two children, don't expect them to share or take turns. Really, I promise you, it's worth investing in two. And thenonce again, everyone will be happy!

--Books or audiobooks also help pass the time, unless your little one gets car sick. Stop by to pick up some new ones!

--Grow With Me has Pack & Plays, Portable Swings, Booster Seats, Bedrails, Baby Carriers, and Diaper Bags of all shapes and sizes to use once you reach your destination.

--Ifyou are staying at a hotel, be sure to bring your swimsuits! That's half the fun for the kids. If the kiddos have grown since the summer, we keep swimwear out all year long.

--And don't forget that you will have to do this all in reverse on the way home!

Wherever you may be going and however you may be getting there, Grow With Me wishes all of you easy travels!

Great New Finds!

We hope everyone had a fabulous Thanksgiving weekend! Now it's time to shop before the winter holidays arrive! Here are some great gift ideas:

*Advent Calendar

*Fisher Price Jeep Power Wheels

*Smart Cycle with 3 Games

*Red Huffy Tricycle

*Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Kitchen

*Leap Frog Groove & Learn Activity Table

*Leap Frog Pretend & Learn Shopping Cart

*Parents Remote Control Car

*Tonka Vehicles

*Hokie Pokie Elmo

*Dancing Tigger

*Izzo Golf Chip Pocket

*Full Bag of Pit Balls

*Wood Bead Maze

*Wood Activity Cube

*Dress-up Boas and Princess Gloves

And here are a few other items we have in stock:

*Fisher Price Calming Vibrations Bouncy Seat

*Fisher Price Ocean Wonders in Box

*New Graco Digital imonitor

*Carter's Prop-up Activity Mat

*Safety Fit Handle Helpers

*Charlie & Lola Height Chart

*Digital Baby Scale

*Simmons Kids Changing Table Pad

Blog Deal Day!

We hope everyone had a fabulous Thanksgiving day and found some great deals out there today. Maybe you even got a chance to stop in during our extended Black Friday hours? Well the deals aren't over yet.

Sunday, November 29th

is

Blog Deal Day

Take 25% off all Alex toys

Just tell us you saw it on the blog!

And all of us here at Grow With Me wish you an enjoyable holiday weekend!

Holiday Shopping

The winter holidays will be here before you know it! We have some special deals coming up to make shopping for gifts a little easier on the wallet. We will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, but we have extended Black Friday hours from 9am to 9pm. That day we will have a Buy 3, Get 1 Free special and we will have our Friday Bin Sale going on as well. On December 4th we will be having a toy and book sale--Buy 1 toy or book, Get 1 for 1/2 price. We also have Facebook and Blog Deal Days coming up, so stay tuned!

Here are some great gift ideas:
*Itty Bitty Babies Bus

*Little People Playground

*Brand New Leap Frog Leap Pad

*Wonder Years 4-in-1 Musical Bug

*Giant Plush Ballerina

*Gund Hip Hop Randy Bears*Radio Flyer Red Wagon

* Aviva Snowbunker Jr. Inflatable Fort with Pump

*Sno-Paint Kits

*Alex Bath Toys

*Melissa & Doug Wooden Food Sets, Puzzles, Craft Kits

*Tutus, Fairy Wings, Tiaras, Pirate and Cowboy Hats

*Lots of Games and Books!

We also have awesome stocking stuffers:
*Scratch Magic Mini-Notes

*Shakey Eggs, Kazoos, and Harmonicas

*Kooky Pens

*Dragon Finger Puppets

*Monkey Pens

*Temporary Tattoos

*Silly Words Tangle, Jr.

*Envirosax Kid's Bag

*And More On the Way

And some other excellent stuff we have in stock:
*PT Toys--Stepping Stones, Balance Board, Scooter Board, and Antsy Seat Cushion

*Kolcraft Contours Classic Bassinet

*Baby Trend Expeditions Jogging Stroller

*Fisher Price Starlight Papasan Cradle Swing

*Basic Comfort Pack N Ride Carrier

*Peg Perego Aria Strooer

*Belle Gentle Front-Support Baby Carrier

*Graco Pack & Play with Bassinet

*Kolcraft Gentle Sleeper Vibrating Mattress

*Diaperdude Blanket

*Scooter Bees Eco-Friendly Baby Shoes

*Magic Mics

*And Plenty More Of Course!

Won't You Be Our Neighbor?

We love being a small, local business and try hard to be a "neighborhood shop." We make sure that we contribute something to our community and we also love getting to know our customers! We have some customers who come in quite frequently and we have gotten to know some of them very well. All of us here at Grow With Me really enjoy hearing the latest news about what new trick the baby can do or the dance recital or the new baby on the way. And because we are all moms, we definitely can empathize over the sleepless nights or tantrums. We are always happy to lend a helping hand with picking out merchandise or holding a baby and we are also happy to lend an ear. If we don't ask you, please ask us!

So I thought that I would tell you a little about all of us here at the store. Here goes:

My name is Marni and I am one of the owners of Grow With Me. I have two children, a 6year old boy and 11 year old girl. I also am an instructor at the Lamaze Family Center, where I facilitate Mother's Groups. Before opening the store, I taught a variety of classes there including Childbirth Classes and Toddler Groups. In my previous life before children, I was working on a Ph.D. in Chinese History and lived in Taiwan and Japan. And I often get teased at the store for wearing a lot of purple. It's my favorite color!

Brown is Elyssa's favorite color and if you come in and someone's wearing brown, it's probably her! Elyssa is co-owner of Grow With Me. She has two children, similar in ages to my own, who are also a boy and a girl. Her son, Gabe, is autistic and he is the inspiration behind all the work that Elyssa has done with the autism organizations here in town. Elyssa previously worked as a consultant in the auto industry. She is a dedicated runner and a vegetarian.

Gina has been working at Grow With Me for more than a year now. She has an adorable 3year old son. Gina enjoys gardening, but is not a farmer (she is not a vegetable gardener). She is a chocoholic, according to her (you could never tell that by looking at her)! And Gina loves to read and to blog. She has kept years and years of journals and now does it online.

Debby is a native of our neighbors to the north. She has two daughters, who are both amazing gymnists! But Debby herself comes from a huge family. B.C. (before children), Debby was a geologist and went to lots of cool places to dig up rocks. She likes spending time outdoors and enjoys camping, hiking, and canoeing with her family. And to my amazement, Debby can seemingly put together or fix almost anything (at least at the store)!

Tracy just had her 1 year anniversary of working at the store. She has four (yes, 4) children--three boys, and finally a girl! The three boys are also autistic and so working at the shop has personal meaning for her. Tracy is a super serious scrapbooker! She also is working on writing a book. How she finds the time is beyond me!

Ashley is our newest employee. She has a two year old son, who is hopefully now recovering from the flu. Ashley is originally from Ohio. Like Tracy, she enjoys writing and would love to be a playwrite or screenwriter. She is also exceptionally good at doing hair and make-up. But she in no way is a girly girl. One of her favorite things to do is to go dirt-biking!

So now that you know a little about us, I hope it will inspire you to come, shop, and share a little something about yourself!

New Items!

Halloween is over! We hope you all had a very happy holiday and are not suffering too badly from the effects of sugar overload. We here at Grow With Me have been busy taking down all the Halloween decorations and packing away costumes. And in their place, we have put up our Thanksgiving decorations and new displays.

In addition, we now have out all of our Holiday Clothing! So come on in and check out all the adorable Christmas dresses, sweaters, and jumpers. We also have set up a holiday shelf in the playroom displaying Christmas books, photo albums, and toys.
Since we last posted two weeks ago about all the new and interesting products, we have gotten in some great finds. Here's just a sampling:


*Pirate Hats, Swords, and Eye Patches
*Cowboy Hats
*Melissa & Doug Decorate-Your-Own Princess Tiara
*Diva Hats & Gloves
*Melissa & Doug Wooden Bake and Decorate Cupcake Set
*Deltasand Start Set and Refill Packs
*Baby Ganz Peek-a-boo 123 Stuffed Bears and Mobey Musical Turtles

*Dekor Diaper Plus with Refill Catridges
*Graco Pack and Play
*Cosco Pack and Play*Baby Smart Cooshee Booster Classic
*Toy Bin Organizer
*Step 2 Stove with Accessories
*Little People Castle, Amusement Park, and Plane
*Melissa & Doug Wood City Ramp Racing Set
*Double Maclaren Twin Traveller Stroller

Making A Difference

We are very grateful to all of our wonderful customers who have made it possible for us to give our latest round of financial contributions to The Ann Arbor Autism Foundation, The Judson Center, and Different Path newsletter. To date, Grow With Me has donated $8,500.00 to these and a number of other autism-related organizations.

Our customers can feel good knowing that each time they donate clothing items or purchase items from our popular dollar bins, they are making a difference for families of children affected by autism. Here’s how some of those contributions are making a difference:

• With our help, The Judson Center to has been able to purchase sensory- friendly therapeutic items for use in their summer programming. In addition, supporting their center will help fund direct scholarships to consumers to supplement the out-of-pocket costs for their programs and services.
• Donations provided to The Ann Arbor Autism Foundation have been used to support families affected by autism by providing scholarships to families in need, and grants to agencies for community projects.
• A Different Path newsletter provides a voice for families of children with special needs. Financial contributions will be used to help pay for mailing and printing costs.

So thank you for your continued support. The more you shop and drop off items, the more assistance we can give these wonderful organizations!

Blog Deal Day!

Blog Deal Day

Thursday, October 29th

It's starting to get chilly outside

so come on in to stock up on

winter outerwear

and we'll give you a great deal

Buy 1 hat, set of gloves, or scarf

and get 1 of equal or lesser value for 50% off

Just let us know you saw it on our blog!

Fabulous New Finds

We are still getting Halloween costumes in every day, so if you are still in need, come on by and check them out or give us a call if you are looking for something in particular.



And we have plenty of new merchandise coming in. Here are some of the new items we have in stock:


*Fisher Price Kitchen with Food

*Mac the Monkey Wooden Stacking Toy

*Pink Radio Flyer Classic Lights and Sounds Trike

*Little People Sweet Sounds Doll House

*Thomas' Cranky the Crane

*Angelina Ballerina Plush Dolls

*Set of Duplo Blocks

*Lot of Rescue Hero Toys & Rescue Hero Command Center



*Little Tikes Racecar Toddler Bed

*Jeep Free-Stand Stroller

*Childcraft Convertible Crib

*Simmons Crib with Mattress


*Arms Reach Mini-Cosleeper

*Regalo Hook-on Chair

*BebeSounds Movement Sensor





*Bloomers 3-Tier Diaper Cake

*Bumble Bags Diaper Bag

*Belli Pure Comfort Nursing Cream & Stretchmark Minimizing Cream

Community Building

We here at Grow With Me are proud of the fact that we are a locally-owned store. And we value being an active member of our community. We hope that our involvement will encourage others to also become involved in community-building projects. Here are just some of the local activities that we have participated in over the past year and a half:

--Donations of over $8500 to the Ann Arbor Autism Foundation and the Washtenaw County chapter of the Judson Center
--Weekly contributions of clothing, toys, and equipment to The House by the Side of the Road
--Sponsorship of the Lamaze Family Center's The Big House Big Heart team and involvement in their Cookie Fundraiser
--Sponsorship of Doulas Care Fundraising Event for the past two years
--Partnership with Michelle Massey Barnes Photography in Autism Fundraiser
--Donation to Honey Creek Community School's Fundraising Raffle
--Information table at the upcoming Parent Resource Fair at the University of Michigan

Thank you to all our customers for supporting our efforts and their local community! And we hope that you will continue to think locally when you shop and make donations.

What's New

We hear you love to know what the latest cool items are in the store, so I'll hold back on my fabulous stories--for at least one more week. And here's what's new:

*Little Tikes Inflatable Bounce House with Slide
*Smart Guard Portable Bed Safety Rail
*Fisher Price Dollhouse with Accessories
*Bristle Blocks Set
*Kidco Safeway Gate
*Anita Nursing Bra
*Evenflo Johnny Jumper
*Chicco Backpack Carrier
*Bumbo Seats in Purple and Blue
*Lincoln Logs
*Christina Collection Porcelain Dolls
*Go Diego Go Dinosaur Transport
*Lots of Games!


And here are some brand new items that we now have in stock:


*Animal Planet Envirosax Bags
*K's Kids Learning Shoes
*Baby-sized Kufi Caps
*Tea Brand Baby Hats

Halloween Is Frighteningly Near

It's October 1st! Have you started thinking about Halloween? In the past, Halloween would always sneak up on me and I would desperately run around to the resale shops looking for pieces of costumes and props. And it would usually be the night before Halloween before I got around to buying the candy. These days, however, the store reminds me daily of all the upcoming holidays and that I have yet to buy what I need. But now my kids can't seem to make a decision about costumes!

So do you have all your little ghosts and goblins set to trick or treat yet? Grow With Me still has plenty of wear for those pirates and princesses. Here are a few of the Halloween items we have in stock:

COSTUMES!
*baby costumes--
bumblebee
goldfish
skunk
lobster
pea pod
ladybug
and pumpkin of course
*toddler costumes--
teletubby
power ranger
dog
pirate
clown
batman
*kid's costumes--
dog
dragontales dragon
rock star
supergirl
winnie the pooh
*big kid costumes--
angel
gangster
scary jester
cat
hannah montana

ACCESSORIES
*clown wig
*pumpkin hat
*Mickey Mouse crown
*flashing teeth
*fairy wings and wands
*pirate hat and patch
*princess tiaras

HALLOWEEN CLOTHING
*bibs
*tights
*onesies
*sleeper
*underwear
*hats
*jewelry
*hair bows

Do you have costumes and Halloween clothing from last year (or the year before) that no longer fit? Bring them in! We'd be happy to buy them from you for cash or store credit. We take Halloween items all year long!

And if you really want to get ahead of the game, or you are really behind the game, we will have all our Halloween stock on sale for 50% off on October 31st!

Fabulous Fall Items

Toys In Stock:

*Calico Critter Table, Townhouse & Accessories

*American Doll Felicity Canopy Bed

*Graco Doll Stroller and Pack & Play

*Fisher Price Swirlin Surprise Gumballs

*Hannah Montana CD Board Game

*Giant Groovy Girl

Things that Go:

*Fisher Price 10" Bicycle

*Cars Tricycle

*Friendly Toys Ride-on Excavator

Baby Equipment:

*White and Honey Wood-finished Changing Tables

*Graco Travel Lite Pack & Play

*Carter's Bassinet

*Wendy Bellisimo Boppy

*Moby Wrap

*Boppy Brand Bouncy Seat

And More

*Dora Folding Sofa/Bed

*Ed Hardy Girl's Boots

Blog Deal Day

We are running out of space for our Parenting Books and Picture Frames so:

Blog Deal Day*

Friday, September 18th

25% Off Any Parenting Book, Picture Frame, or Photo Album

Just let us know you saw it on the blog!

*This special is not available with other offers or store credit.

New Items

New stuff is just pouring in every day! Here is a sampling of some of the things we now have in stock:


*Ikea Bed Canopy
*Laura Ashley Pack & Play
*Radio Flyer Wagon
*Childcraft Crib
*Kolcraft Bassinet

*Radio Flyer Classic Lights & Sounds Trike
*Battat Wood Duck Ride-on Toy
*Barbie Chat Diva
*My Doll Nursery Set
*Dora Clock
*Sparkly Diva Hats
*Fisher Price Aquarium Cradle Swing
*Pirate Adventure Pinball Game
*Fisher Price Swing N Meals
*Melissa & Doug First Play Grasping Toys

Back To School

Is everybody ready to go back to school? Summer has gone by a little too quickly in my opinion, but after two weeks without camp, I think it is time to move on. I know that I am definitely ready to get back to a regular routine!

Back-to-school is always a busy time here for us at Grow With Me. And I think the cooler weather has reminded everyone of the change in season earlier than usual. Last year, it wasn't until October that we were so well-visited. So thank you for stopping by!

So what are the essentials? In my opinion, lots of easy-to-wear and easy-to-put-on clothes are the best. I have learned that there is no point in sending your child to school in the absolute cutest clothing. Then you only worry about rips and stains, etc. Save those nice clothes for weekend events such as birthday parties and family get-togethers, all the up-coming holidays, and school pictures. Stick to jeans, playdresses,sweats,and easy-to-move-in skirts with attached shorts or leggings. Do not under any circumstance send your child to school in anything white! And here's a tip: make sure the neck is stretchy enough to get over the head easily. Early mornings are no fun with screaming children stuck in clothing! Also, lace-up shoes can be so cute and great for learning how to tie, but honestly, do you want all the frustration that goes along with them? You know they are never going to tie them. They will try to cram their foot in angrily, or leave them untied, or will walk on and break the backs or just flat out refuse to wear them. I have learned this lesson well.

Are you buying ahead for winter? Make sure you have two of everything! Two pairs of boots, at least two pairs of mittens, two or perhaps 5 hats, two coats, two pairs of snowpants, and two scarves. Do you have to ask why? I can't tell you how many parents came in last winter in a panic because their child lost said item/s the day before. And it's not easy these days to find snowpants in February. In fact, it's not just winter items that they lose. Once, my daughter's friend buried her shoes so well in the playground sand that they could not be found. Yes, she came home without shoes that day (good thing they wear slippers in class). So think ahead and get some extras early!

Feel free to share any of your own tips. And hope to see you for all your back-to-school needs!

Bursting with New Items!

Sorry for the delay in getting a new blog entry out! We have been sooooo busy this week! Maybe the cool weather is reminding everyone that it is almost back to school time. We have been selling so many items of fall clothing, coats, and even

Halloween Costumes!

But we have also been buying like crazy. I guess everyone is clearing out before buying for the new season, so we are always getting in new clothing and costumes. And we have plenty of other new items as well. Here are just a small sampling:

*Leap Frog Learning Desk

*Little Tikes Children's Desk

*BebePod Plus Baby Seat

*Bumbo Seat

*Infantino Shop & Play Shopping Cart Cover

*Fisher Price Intellitainer Exersaucer

*Little Tikes Coupe Car

*Playhut Basketball Hoop

*Megablocks Wagon

*Littlest Pet Shop Get Well Center

*Arms Reach Mini Co-Sleeper

*Beanstalk Backpack Carrier

*Fisher Price Soothing Motions Glider

Blog Deal Day

Blog Deal Day*

25% Off All Equipment

We are running out of room, so come take a look at all our bouncy seats, swings, diaper bags, changing tables, carriers, etc.!

*This special is not valid with other offers or store credit

Winter Coats and Other New Items

Winter Coats, Boots, Hats, and Mittens Are Out!

Come early for the best selection

Other New Items In Stock:
Fall Clothing
White Changing Table with Drawer

Bumbo Seat

K's Kids Julia (or Wayne) Needs A Bath

Handcrafted Potty Seat

Beanstalk Backpack Carrier

Playtex Hip Hammock Carrier

Graco Clip-on Stroller Umbrella

The First Years Hands-Free Gate

Totally Me Deluxe Pottery Wheel

Wedding Day Barbie

Galloping Jumperoo

Kufi Caps and Clip-on Flowers

Recycle Shops

We have a new exchange student in our house. She arrived from Japan just last week. It’s a big adjustment for someone who has not done much travelling. It is a new and different world. I brought her to the store with me the other day. She looked over everything and was very impressed. And she was quite surprised when I told her this was a resale store. In Japan they are called recycle shops, but there are not many of them, and much fewer clothing recycle shops than those carrying other items such as televisions and other electronic equipment.

And that got me thinking about the progress we’ve made here in this country with recycling generally and the proliferation of resale stores. According to the National Association of Resale and Thrift Shops, there has been a 5% annual growth in the industry. No doubt that hard economic times have played a role in the recent upswing in resale sales. Some second-hand stores are reporting as much as a 20% increase in sales. But the expansion in the industry over the years is most likely related to an increased awareness in recycling and the desire to minimize our impact on our environment—at least that’s what I’d like to think. And that interest has in turn changed the image of the resale shop. People are no longer afraid to admit that they bought that adorable outfit at a second-hand store. In fact, I’ve seen people say it with pride. And others respond with, “What a great find!”

So next time you are planning on going for the great sales at the retail store, take a moment to think about whether you really need to buy it new. When you buy at a resale shop, not only will you find great deals, but you are also doing your part in creating an eco-friendly society. The more you buy resale, not only are you buying “green”, but you are helping the industry survive and thrive. And just maybe we can be a great example for other countries. You know, Japanese teens especially love all things American, so perhaps recycle shops will become the next big thing!

Stuff-a-Bag Sale Pricing

For those of you who aren't familiar with a stuff-a-bag sale, this is your chance to check it out! We have bins and bins full of clothing and the bags to stuff the clothing into. You can stuff as much as you can into each bag as long as you can tie it shut. Usually we do this sale only twice a year, at the change of season, so don't miss it! Here's how the pricing will work per bag:

9:00-11:00: $8.99
11:00-2:00: $5.99
2:00-4:00: $3.99
4:00-5:00: $1.99

Come early for the best selection!

Stuff-A-Bag Sale & New Items

Stuff-A-Bag Sale

Saturday, August 8th

9:00a.m. - 5:00p.m.

Stuff a bag full of select clothes for one low price!

New Items In Stock:

Little Tikes Cook 'n Learn Kitchen

First Years 5-in-1 Sleep System

Sassy Mobile with Remote

Fisher Price Bounce & Spin Zebra

Doll Strollers & Changing Table Station

Travel N Trundle Bed

Fisher Price Aquarium Cradle Swing

Lots of Puzzles, Games, and New Stuffed Animals

And Much More!

Moving into Fall

Like it or not, fall is on the way and soon all the kiddos will be heading back to school. Now I am not one of those moms who is organized enough to start shopping early for back-to-school clothes. In fact, I am one of those moms who wait until it is too cool to wear shorts anymore only to realize we have no pants that fit. And it goes something like this, “Oh, c*#p, it’s going to be cold tomorrow! You better bring up the winter bins from the basement, Hon.” This is followed by me tearing through the bins hopelessly searching for that one pair of pants that might have been a little bigger. Then the inevitable conversation the next morning: “Mom, I can’t wear these pants! They are too small!” “Well, either you wear those or shorts or nothing at all ‘cause that’s all I’ve got. I’ll try to stop today for something that will fit.”

But we know some of you like to shop early. I am envious of those of you who have it together enough to do that. And I am completely blown away by those of you who are asking for winter coats in the middle of summer. You must be super-moms! And that is why we are already stocking the store with those back-to-school clothes. Usually we start mixing some fall clothing in by the middle of July. We stop putting new summer clothing out on the floor by the end of the month. And we really try to have the store turned over to almost all fall/winter clothing by the middle of August.

We are going to start putting winter coats and bunting out now, but our plan is to switch our big swimwear display over to coats and snowsuits on August 10th. However, we know that kids can have growth spurts or lose those swimshoes, sandals, sunhat, etc. I remember all too well running all over town desperately searching for a new swimsuit in the middle of August. How frustrating! So we do keep some summer-wear out until the very end of the season. We also know that kids need swimsuits all year long and we try to keep them available to you. Just check in each size. Even after the season is over, you are always welcome to ask if we have something you need stored away in back.

What about Halloween costumes, you ask? Expect a display the very beginning of September. I just spent some time looking through all those bins because a certain someone just had to have a Star Wars costume for camp. Unfortunately, my feeling of utter triumph at having found one (after working up a sweat moving around 10 or so bins of costumes) was completely deflated after a certain someone then decided he didn’t want to wear it after all. But I can tell you, we have many great costumes! So stay tuned for info on the exact date.

We hope to see you soon for all your back-to-school clothing needs!

Christmas in July Sale

Christmas in July Sale

Why not get your holiday shopping done early this year?

All our best holiday-wear for boys and girls will be out on the floor for

One Day Only

Friday, July 31st

Selling Your Stuff

We want our customers to know how things work at Grow With Me. We’ve been customers at resale stores ourselves, so we understand the frustrations of selling. That is why we try to make the process as clear and easy as we possibly can. And we try to ensure that we give both those selling and buying get the fairest deals we can possibly can. So I thought some of you might want a better idea of how we actually go about buying items from our customers.

When you bring your things in, we first presort them. We check the items for any stains, tears, missing pieces, or broken parts. I personally have brought many things into the store that I thought were in almost perfect condition only to find something wrong with them once there. Every little stain shows up under our fluorescent lights! Many of our customers who buy from us expect our merchandise to be in like-new condition and for that reason we are very particular about what we accept.We also check the brand and size of the items you bring in. Some brands sell better than others for us, and that can sometimes depend on size. For example, Hanna Anderson clothing sells very well in smaller size, but not so well in the tween or teen sizes. And, of course, we make sure no toy or piece of equipment has been recalled.

After we presort your items, we price the things that we are able to accept. Pricing can vary greatly depending on brand, size, and condition. We do have a pricing matrix for clothing, but even then, we might price something a little higher if it is brand new with tags or a little lower if it is one of our favorite brands but has a little wear. When we price toys and equipment, we generally check the retail cost of the item and then price that item at one-third to one-half of the current retail value. Then you would get one-third to one-half of our price. So, yes, you would earn more if you sell your things on your own. But you would also have the hassle of doing that. The pricing we use is competitive with other resale stores. We would love to be able to give you more for your things, but we have to keep prices low enough for our buying customers, and we have to make enough of a profit to keep the store running and our employees paid!

Then we total everything up and give you a cash offer or 30% more if you prefer store credit. If you have dropped your things off at the store, we will then give you a call to let you know we’ve finished processing them. We really cannot tell you what we are paying out for each item, but we would be happy to let you know the pricing on one or two specific things. We do ask that you pick up those items we were not able to accept within a few days if you do not plan on donating them. We try to be flexible about the pick up of No Thank You’s, but we do have limited space in our backroom for storage. If for some reason you can’t get back to the store in a few days, we ask that you call and talk to us about the situation. If after a couple of phone calls we do not here from you, we would donate those things to our Autism Account.

We hope we’ve taken some of the mystery out of our buying process. You are always welcome to ask questions. And we hope to see you and your stuff soon!

Grow With Me Blog Deal Day

Blog Deal Day!

Tuesday, July 21st

Let us know you read our blog and

Take an extra 20% off all summer-wear

(sleeveless tops, hawaiian print shirts, shorts, swimwear, sunglasses, sunhats, summer shoes)

including all redlined items

Art Fair Exhaustion?

Are you Art-Faired out? Then take a break and stop on in for our

Friday Bin Sale

All Items in Bins are $1 and 50% of proceeds go to local autism organizations.
We have lots of new brand-name items in the bins, such as Gymboree, Gap, and Old Navy

And all redlines are still 70% off. They are disappearing fast, so hurry in!

Upcoming Events & New Items

We have two fabulous sales events coming up:

Christmas In July
Why not shop for Christmas outfits early?
Tentatively scheduled for July 31st

Stuff-a-Bag Sale
Stuff as much as you can from our bins into your bags for 1 low price
Coming up August 8th

Stay tuned for more information!



Items Now In Stock:
*Bitty Baby Changing Table and Booster Seat
*Doll Bassinet, Canopy Bed, and Car Seat Carrier
*Bratz Dolls, Convertible Car, and Moped
*Matchbox Car Sets
*Littlest Pet Shop Set
*Evenflo Trail Tech Back Pack Carrier
*Jumperoo
*Kolcraft Double Stroller
*Cradletyme Crib Mattress
*Boppy Activity Mat
*Maya Wrap Sling
*Puzzles, Puzzles, and More Puzzles!

Christmas All Year

I am often asked what it’s like to be a business owner and what I most enjoy about it. Well I’ll tell you. I love interacting with and helping our customers. And we have so many wonderful, interesting people who frequent our store, both big and little. I feel a great sense of satisfaction after assisting a new mom with the baby carriers, or lending a hand to a grandmother who is trying to decide what would be the best gift for her 3 year old grandson, or helping a dad pick out an outfit that his wife won’t bring back to the store the next day! I also like the more creative aspects of my job—working on store displays, emails, and the blog. And I’m always happy when a customer wants to buy a piece of clothing I’ve put on display or comments on one of my blog entries (hint, hint!).

But the most entertaining part of resale shop work is definitely looking over all the fun stuff people bring in. It’s like Christmas all year long! Every basket holds some golden nugget. There are the fun toys you can’t help but play with, the excellent books that hold even an adult’s attention, the little stylish outfits you wish you could afford for yourself, and the adorable baby clothes that almost make you want to have another child—almost! We just never know what we’re going to find. Of course sometimes we come across things we would rather not, such as children’s used underwear, food-encrusted toys, or moldy shoes. But more often than not we are pleasantly surprised and enchanted by what our customers bring us. So keep it coming! We buy for all seasons all year, for cash or 30% more in store credit. We look forward to seeing what goodies you have for us!

Super Duper Summer Savings

We are making room for back to school clothing, so

ALL REDLINES ARE NOW 70% OFF!

Getting ready to head to the beach? Let us help!

New Items we have in Stock:
*Goo Goo Shades and Fuzzy Shades
*Disney Sunshade Tent
*Especially for baby Car Seat Sunshade
*Eddie Bauer Baby Carrier Sun Cover
*Peapod Portable Travel Bed
*Playtex Fridge to Go Bag
*Fisher Price Aquarium Take Along Swing
*Maggie B Diaper Bag
*Envirosax Bags--make great beach bags
*Swimwear and Sunhats

Happy Holiday!

We at Grow With Me hope you have a very happy Independence Day! And feel free to run in for any last minute patriotic purchases. We will be open from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00p.m. on the 4th and anything you can put together that is red, white, and blue will be 20% off!

Donating to Grow With Me

Some of you might not be aware that you can donate items to Grow With Me. When you bring your goods in to sell, we will sort through them. Those things we are not able to put on the selling floor, you may either bring home or donate to the store. You may also bring in donations anytime, even if you are not selling to us. Anyone who donates items will receive a coupon for 10% off your next purchase.

All of the donated items that we think are sellable go into our $1 Bins for our weekly Bin Sales. 50% of all the proceeds from those sales go to local autism organizations. Presently, Grow With Me contributes to the Ann Arbor Autism Foundation (www.annarborautism.com) and the Washtenaw County branch of the Judson Center (www.judsoncenter.org). Those items that might not sell during our Bin Sales are donated through us to House by the Side of the Road. What is fabulous about this particular nonprofit is that unlike the Salvation Army or PTO Thrift Store, House by the Side of the Road does not sell donated items, but gives them away to those in need that are referred there from other organizations in town, such as Safehouse and the The Corner Health Center. The only time we throw anything away is if an item is in obviously unsafe condition or otherwise unusable.

So feel good about bringing your things into Grow With Me. Not only will you earn some cash back on them or 30% more in store credit if you are selling, but you will be helping families in need.

But I Waaaaant That!!

Last week we were in Cancun, Mexico. Yes, thank you, it was a good time. But you know, when you go on vacation with the kids, it usually ends up more of a family trip than a vacation. There’s always that whining about all the things they want. The constant “no, no, no’s” get terribly tiring. And you can’t exactly tell them to put it on their birthday or Christmas list. So now that our son is old enough to understand, to some degree, how money works, we decided to try something new. We gave each of them a certain amount of money for the week that they could spend as they liked (for the most part). Of course we gave them some guidance, such as, “I think that giant sombrero would be difficult to get home” or “those dangly earrings are a little long for you.” But overall it was a great success. “Are you sure that’s what you want because then you’ll only have $2 left” got those little wheels turning. We could see them thinking it over and making the difficult decisions. There was still plenty of whining concerning other issues, and we had to deal with the fallout of purchases not smartly made, but it was still mostly a relief to let the kids take over the responsibility of what to buy.

We hear plenty of whining, screaming, and crying over this same issue here in the store. And that is perfectly normal, especially in today’s consumer culture. Young children don’t understand why they can’t just have what they want. Older children always have that great reason why they should be allowed to have what they want. And they all have an idea of what’s fair: “Why shouldn’t I be allowed to buy something when I have to spend so long shopping for what mom wants?” Some parents tell their children to put it on their wish lists. Some parents just say “no” and walk over their tantruming child. Some parents tell their children to pick out one thing each. Some parents give in at some point and buy what the child wants. And some parents look exasperated. If you are one of those exasperated parents, or even if you’re not, it never hurts to teach your children about the value of money. To prep for the trip, we established an allowance. This allowance is not dependent on any jobs that have to be done (after all, we all have to do chores because we are all members of the family), but always given weekly in order for them to begin to understand how money works. When they would like to make an impulse buy,we ask, “Are you sure you want to buy that now, or would you like to save up for something you really want?” And when they want to make a big purchase we say, “If you save up for X number of weeks, you’ll be able to buy that.” Okay. It doesn’t always work. Sometimes they just want what they want when they want it. But it is awfully nice not to have to fight about it all the time. And I think they are actually starting to understand, as mom always said, that money doesn’t grow on trees!

Summer Markdowns & New Items

I know you don't want to think about autumn quite yet, but it is almost time for us to start making room for our fall inventory. So,

All Red-Marked Items Are Now 50% Off!

If your little one might grow out of their shorts before the summer is over, or they need an extra sun hat for the trip to the beach, or you haven't yet bought that July 4th outfit, now is the time to get some great prices on summer merchandise!



Some great items we now have in stock:

*Neurosmith Jumbo Music Block
*Peg Perego Stroller
*Fisher Price Power Plus Swing
*Playskool Simon Says Sit & Spin
*Battat Mini Market
*Melissa & Doug Dinosaur Puzzles
*Ganz Painted Glass Night Lights

Wonderful Baby Shower Gift Ideas at Grow With Me!

Grow With Me offers a great variety of unique baby shower gift ideas at a fraction of the retail cost. Whether you're shopping for an adorable outfit or creating a basket full of baby shower goodies, we would love to help you find the perfect gift to give to the new bundle of joy.

We currently have a huge variety of baby shower gift ideas! Come check it out:

*Me Giant Wee Bubba long-sleeve onesies and shirts are just adorable. Each one comes in its own little lunchbox and is 100% cotton and made in the USA.

*Z. Daisy hooded towels and changing pads are so soft and cuddly. It's too bad their just for babies!

*Baby Ganz stuffed animals and rattles are just the right size for baby to hold. They come in a variety of friendly-faced animals.

*A 2-tiered couture Bloomers diaper cake adorned with yellow silk flowers, a keepsake ceramic baby block, and wrapped in white toulle would be perfect for any stylish baby shower.

*Don't forget our oh so popular Baby Paper that come in three great colors. They are crunchy and crinkly and fun to play with!

*A wide variety of Slinglings baby slings in great colors and patterns.

*New Boppy pillows make a great gift to make mom and baby so comfortable!

The Beginning of Summer Vacation

The Monday morning after school let out for the summer, the conversation went something like this:

“Mama watch me play Wii.”
“Just for a minute. I have to go to work today. Ok. Got to go.”
“Oh, wait, you have to see something.”
“I can’t sweetie, I have to get ready for work.”
“But look! I have 2 Indiana Jones now.”
“Uh-huh. That’s nice.”
“You’re not watching.”
“I can’t. I have to get ready for work.”

And 10 minutes later:

“I thought you were getting ready for work.”
“I am.”
“Well what’s taking you so long. Do you have time to watch me now?”
“No, not now.”
“But I’m hungry.”
“Go talk to your dad.”
“But he’s busy.”
“Well tell him he needs to feed you.”

And then upstairs:

“Mama, can I wear the new skirt you bought me today?”
“No.”
“Why noooooooot?”
“Because it is too nice to wear for a playdate.”
“But what if I only wear it there and then I’ll change if we do something messy.”
“No.”
“But why nooooooot?”
“Because either you will forget to change or won’t want to take the time to do it and then I will end up getting angry and you will tell me it wasn’t your fault.”
“I won’t do any of that. I promise.”
“You always promise and we need to be done with this conversation because I need to get ready to for work.”
“But Mamaaaaaa! What if I bring the skirt and just try it on for her so she can see it and then I’ll take it right off.”
“Go talk to your father about it.”
“But he’ll just ask me what you said!”

And this is why my children go to camp all summer long! I wish my kids could be the kind of children who play well by themselves. Or I wish I was the type of mom who thinks up fabulous activities for my children to do and could spend hours playing pretend kitties that talk to each other. However, I realized long ago that we are who we are. And being who we are, my children and I are both better off when they are at camp all summer long.

But if your kids are home with you for the summer and you are having one of those days where everything is a struggle, then sometimes a change of atmosphere can do wonders. I learned that a long time ago too. So stop by the store. Let the children play or watch a video while you do a little shopping. And then you might want to ask us which camps our children attend!

Position Available

Are you an outgoing, friendly person who is familiar with children's merchandise? We are now looking for someone with flexible availability to join our team here at Grow With Me. Resale or retail experience is a plus, but not necessary. It is a 5-10 hr. per week position. Please give us a call or stop in for more information!

Children Will Be Children

We call our store a resale boutique because of the high quality of our merchandise and the smaller-shop atmosphere we have tried to create. But we are a children’s store and we are very well aware that children will be children.

I was in another resale store the other day and one of the salespeople told my 10 year old daughter to go find her mommy, which upset her terribly. And during the same trip, another salesperson told a mother not to let her child play with the merchandise-- that there was a specific area of the store where children could use the toys. After that experience, I really had no interest in returning there. How can the staff of a children’s store not expect developmentally appropriate behavior from children?

Babies cry, toddlers run around and grab anything they can get their hands on and try to put it in their mouths, preschoolers want to play with everything including baby toys, and older children either want to try on clothes or tell everyone how bored they are! We get it. We’ve had little ones pee and puke in the store. We’ve had others pull every book they could reach off the bookshelves. And we’ve had lots of crying, yelling, falling-on-the-floor-kicking-full-out tantrums. Children will be children and that’s as expected. Most of the time we just smile our knowing smiles. We’ve all been there. And sometimes you just have to laugh.

So next time you come for a visit and your adorable angel of a child decides to do the unthinkable, don’t stress. Know that you are in a tolerant, accepting place. Tell us if we can help in any way. We would, however, appreciate it if you took a few moments to help your child tidy up. We’ll be happy to teach them, and you, the Clean Up Song or play clean up games. You’d be surprised at how well they work! And then take a deep breath or two before heading out for your next adventure.

Blog Deal Day

Can you believe it's almost time for us to start doing summer markdowns? It seems a little crazy since we've hardly even seen summer yet. But keep up with the retail stores we must! Soooo, we are going to give all you bloggers a head start:

Wednesday, June 3rd

Blog Deal Day

Get 20% off all summer items

(that means shorts, swimwear, summer dresses, sleeveless tops)

Just let us know that you saw it on the Grow With Me Blog!

In Stock

If you haven't been in the store in awhile, you might want to check out some of the great new Alex bath toys we have in stock. We are now carrying:

• Rub-a-Dub Fashion in the Tub
• Monsters in my Tub
• Spin and Wash
• Tub Tunes Water Xylophone and Flute

We also had a huge number of drop-offs this week and have many new resale items in, including:

• a bebePod baby chair


• an adorable, pink Schylling piano


• a drawer and changing table set complete with a little mirror for baby to watch him/herself


• an In-step double jogging stroller/trailer


• a Little Tikes kitchen set


• and a huge number of new books, dvd's, cd's, and toys.

So we hope you will stop on by, say hi, and take a look around!

Stay tuned for details about Blog Deal Day Wednesday, June 3rd . . .

The Pacifier Fairy Lives Here!

A couple of months ago one of our regular customers called and told me that the Pacifier Fairy lived at our store. I was to be the assistant Pacifier Fairy and my job was to pass all pacifiers along to said fairy. Not too long after the call, in they came. Her daughter very solemnly handed me a bag filled with pacifiers and I very solemnly took them and said that I would keep them safe until I could give them to the Pacifier Fairy. And then they happily went to pick out a toy in exchange for the pacifiers. Our little customer turned and gave one last look before leaving without her beloved objects of comfort, a little unsure about this whole affair, but nonetheless, bravely moving on to life beyond the paci.

Not too long after that, a couple came into the store with their little girl. The child, obviously quite pleased with herself, handed me a cutout of an umbrella with two rows of stickers. Each of these stickers represented a hard day’s work of behaving well. There were 14 stickers. So for two weeks of good behavior, the child was rewarded with a very pretty umbrella. She was all smiles. When I asked the father if he wanted the sticker chart returned, he said that they had plenty of others at home in all different shapes and sizes. But I did not throw it away and, in fact, it is still under the counter.

Now although I have resorted to rewards on occasion, I personally am not a big fan of using them on a regular basis. I have found that they tend to get out of hand and children expect bigger and better rewards for their accomplishments. Also, if everything is rewarded all the time, then, research shows, children don’t want to do anything without the reward and actually become less, rather than more, motivated. However, I am certainly aware of the realities of life and that desperate times call for desperate measures. And I have learned well not to judge how others choose to parent.

Therefore, I (and everyone else at Grow With Me) am more than happy to play along with any nonviolent scheme any parent may think up to help move things along in the right direction. I keep that paper umbrella under the counter because I feel privileged to have been trusted with such an important role, however small, in the life of a child. So feel free to give us a call ahead of time or whisper directions to us. After all, we parents have to stick together! And I kind of like being the official Assistant to the Pacifier Fairy:-)

Memorial Day Sale and Other News

We know it's supposed to be a beautiful weekend and you'll be planning the days outside, but you might want to stop in for our great sale this weekend. Buy 3 items and Get 1 free of equal or lessser value. In addition, we will be holding our bin sale two extra days this weekend--Friday thru Monday!

We are also helping out the Lamaze Family Center with their fundraiser. They are selling
cookie mix made by the local company, Among Friends. They are big bags of mix and a great deal for $10 a bag. So help us support a great community resource for parents.

And we are happy to announce that we just sent our most current contributions to the local autism groups that we support. $600 went to the Ann Arbor Autism Foundation and $400 to the Judson Center. Thank you for shopping here at Grow With Me, which allows us to be so generous with these important organizations!

Grow With Me Voted #2 Kids' Clothing Store in Ann Arbor Family Press

#2 Kids' Clothing shop in Ann Arbor—wow! Who knew? We didn’t until just recently. Thank you to all our customers who voted for us, or planned to vote, or would have voted for us if they knew they could. It’s the thought that counts! What is fabulous about being in the clothing category is that those who don’t normally shop resale might give us a try. Of course, you all are our best advertising. Many people aren’t aware that there is a difference in resale shops. There are the thrift shops, such as Value World and the PTO Thrift Shop, which are fabulous places to get great buys at cheap prices. But you need to spend some time searching for those fantastic finds. I think many people who don’t shop resale don’t realize there is another alternative, that there are stores like ours, which only sell merchandise in top condition. And I am guessing that they are also not aware that we carry many brand new, never-been-worn items. So help us educate the public on shopping resale and all the benefits that go along with it! Here is my

Top 5 List of Reasons For Shopping Resale for Kids:

1. You can save a bundle of money! You can buy at least 3 outfits resale for the price of one retail.
2. Who’s going to know the difference? You can find the outfits for the wedding that the kids are only going to wear once or the brand new baby shower gifts for so much less and no one will be the wiser.
3. Kids outgrow their clothing so quickly, so what’s the point in paying top dollar? And kids ruin their clothing so quickly, so who needs the worry that they will ruin their clothes that cost so much?
4. There's that shopper’s euphoria when you find that great deal or exactly what you were looking for at a fraction of the price .
5. You are doing something good for the environment when you shop resale and, when you shop at Grow With Me, good for your community!
   
   

WELCOME!

Welcome all shoppers and fans of Grow With Me! We are embarking on a new journey into cyberspace and trying our hand at blogging. Here you will find all the latest happenings at the store. But I thought I would spice it up a bit and add some journal-type entries about store life and parenting. We welcome all comments and if you are a super-blogger yourself, please let us know! We would love to include your essays on anything to do with kids or resale shopping and links to your own blogs. And I'm hoping to convince some of our most excellent employees to do some blogging here too. So stay tuned . . . Marni, Co-owner of Grow With Me