Fabulous New Finds

It must be time to start thinking about Halloween because we have been getting a lot of new costumes in this week. If you don't want to make the trip in to check for a particular costume, feel free to give us a call. We'll be happy to take a look for you. And besides costumes, here's some of the new stuff we have in right now:

*Jeep Overland Jogging Stroller

*Jeep Wagoneer Tandem Stroller

*Evenflo Exersaucer

*Ikea Toddler Bed

*Graco Travel Lite Pack & Play

*Fisher Price Aquarium Cradle Swing

*Germ Guardian Nursery Sanitizer

*Munchkin Fresh Food Feeder (new in package)

*Hearthsong Dollhouse Mansion

*Thomas Train Tracks and Trains

*Playskool Clipo Creativity Table

*Fisher Price Toy Washer

*Gross Out Doodle Monster

*Designer Girl Doll

*Wood Easel Paper Roller

*idog with Case

Homemade Halloween Costumes

We have a great assortment of Halloween costumes to choose from, although they've been going fast. But have you considered trying to make your own this year? Of course some costumes are more difficult than others to create from scratch, but here's what we get out of making our own costumes in our house:

*It's a great way to spend some time together

*When the kids help out it really gets their creative juices flowing

*And then they feel so proud of themselves when they get to wear the costume that they helped to create

*It can be much cheaper than buying a costume

*Buying used items to make costumes is Green

*It is just plain fun!

Some of the easiest costumes to make include ghost (of course), clown, cowboy, princess, ballerina, fairy, witch, train engineer, scarecrow, cat, bunny, spider, bee, 60's, 70's, or 80's outfit, geek (no offense), or snowman. But what you can come up with is really endless. Last year we managed to put together a Jo from Little Women costume and a very scary monster. The coolest thing about making your own costumes is that if you do it year after year, eventually your kids will think up all kinds of interesting ideas on their own as they get older. Although a little gruesome, a couple of years ago my daughter decided she was going to be some kind of drowned ghost and instructed me to buy a white dress. I found the dress at a resale shop for a few dollars. She rolled around in the mud in the dress, put leaves and fake seaweed in her hair and painted her face white. And we were both happy.

So google "making your own Halloween costume" and then come on by for some of your materials. You can find some fabulously cheap clothing to cut up or roll in the mud in our Second Bloom Room where everything is $1!

Wow--everyone must be cleaning out their closets in preparation for fall! It has been nonstop buying for us this week. We are overflowing in new merchandise. We are getting our fall clothes out as quickly as we can. We also are working on getting out our Halloween Costumes and Winter Outerwear. So come get first pick! And here's some of the items we have available right now:

*Petunia Pickle Bottom Serenity Slings

*Radio Flyer 2-seat Wagon

*Evenflo Baby Go Camping High Chair

*Boppy Swing

*Chicco Trevi Stroller

*Graco Quattro Stroller with Comfort Tracker

*Simmons Crib Mattress

*Bergamo Toddler Bed

*Dr. Brown's Natural Flow 3-Pack Bottles

*Evenflo Megasaucer

*New Little Tikes Swing

*Magic Cabin Dollhouse Mansion

*Italtrike OKO Tricycle

*Melissa & Doug Wood Blocks Set

*500 Piece Mega Block Set (ages 4 & up)

*New Fisher Price Tubtime Tugboat

*Tickle Me Cookie Monster

*Crocodile Creek ABC Floor Puzzle

*Parents Magazine Bee Bop Band Set

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!

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!