The love of consignment sales

Here in Knoxville, it is Duck Duck Goose season, one of my favorite times of the year. You see this is one of Knoxville's biggest consignment sales and I got hooked about 4 yrs ago. If you had asked me 5 or 6 yrs ago, if I would have ever bought any of my kids clothing from a consignment sale, I would probably have said no. But if you were to ask me now, I would say absolutely. The first time is overwhelming, not sure how to "do it" and you see all these season consignment sale shoppers there, with there special baskets, racks, wagons, strollers, etc... There were so many racks, so many people, and the check outline was nothing like I had ever seen. My first time was in the spring and I had my 2 yr old and my 4 mo old in tow with my double stroller trying to maneuver these cram-packed isles. But in the end, I walked out with some great deals. I think at this point I was hooked. This particular sale has thousands of consignors who price their own clothing. So you can find great bargains on some really great clothes and when you have two little ones to cloth, then every dollar you save is that much more you can spend on other things. After my first sale and carefully considering the time and effort involved in getting things together for a sale, I decided to participate in the fall sale that year. I was amazed at how many clothes my children had and have outgrown in a season. After my first sale, I made more then I spent, so that is always a plus. After now doing this sale for 4 yrs, I can't wait until the next sale. DDG does a spring/summer and a fall/winter sale, each year it has grown and grown. They are now in a bigger store, with literally thousands and thousands of feet of rack space. This spring I chose not to consign in the spring sale, I just didn't have it in me this year and had waited too long to get my things tagged, so I will wait until the fall when I have more things to put in the sale. I sort of feel sad that I didn't work this sale this year and miss some of the girls I have gotten to know over the last 4 yrs. Not to mention getting to shop the day before the public and then shop first on half price day (this is when I find my best bargains). I did get a chance to do a little shopping, but didn't buy as much as I would have normally, that is only because I have been buying an stashing away a lot of clearnace things at the end of last summer. But let it be know I will be there this fall. It is my goal to never pay retail for anything again.

http://dkdkgoose.com/knoxville/

Never to old to learn...

Hmmm, I wonder who panned those famous words "never to old to learn"? So in the hopes of teaching an old dog some new tricks, I have decided to go back to school. But seriously, I have given a lot thought here lately. I always said I would go back to school one day, and I guess for me that 'one day' is approaching. At my age of nearly 41, what in the world could I be thinking, have I gone completely mad? For some that answer may be YES, and at times my inner voice is agreeing quite loudly. But there is still that voice inside my head that says "you can do this". So back in January, I researched programs to get my RN to BSN. Right now I have my associates degree in nursing and practice as a licensed RN and have done so for the last 10 yrs. I love my job as a labor and delivery nurse, but as I get older, those long 12 hour shifts on my feet are taking there toll on me. Besides, I think the average age of a RN is 45-47 years of age, so hey, I'm still one of the young ones in this game. Well after my research, I chose to apply to ETSU, they have an online RN to BSN program that seems like it would be a good fit for my busy life. I got accepted into ETSU and now I am just waiting to see if I get accepted in the nursing program. I won't know anything until probably late May or early June. I figured there was no time like the present. With my 5 yr old starting kindergarten this fall and having my 3 yr old home with me this may allow me some time to apply myself to this idea I have in my head. You see by 2015, they are requiring all nurse practitioners to have doctrate degrees (believe I have looked at the course work for that and I about fell over). I have been toying around with the idea of family nurse practitioner and here lately a MSN in nursing education. Both are really good directions to go in: FNP will be more in demand with all the health care reform and a shortage of general practice doctors. It would be a more family friendly schedule having children still at home and the pay would be about twice as much as I am making now. Then there is the idea of MSN in nursing education, there is expected to be a shortage of skill nursing instructors to teach the younger generation coming up. Most of the educators in nursing are aging just like me, but they may have 15-20 yrs on me. But how awesome would that be to be able to pay it forward for a new generation? So here I sit wondering which path to choose. But I guess I need to cross my first bridge and get accepted to the nursing program first. This may be at least a 4 yr undertaking, but I have to start somewhere. I promised my dad long ago that I would always finish nursing school, and I did. But I want to make him even more proud and say not only did I finish, but I continued on in my journey. I also want to use this an example to my children, and want them to see me work hard for my goals and be able to enjoy the 'fruits of my labor'.
Now it's just a waiting game.

The unlikely hero

What was suppose to have been just a quiet day at home with my sick 5 yr old, turned out to be not so quiet at lunch time. Since Jay and Jonathan had went to church this morning, I decided i was going to make lunch and have everything ready for when they got home. What started out as a good plan had me waiting for the oven to cool down so I could clean the flour I threw in there out. Why did I throw flour in the oven you may ask?

Before turning the oven on to pre-heat it, I pulled out the baking trays, unaware of the near disaster that would follow. Meatloaf and veggies ready to go in the oven to cook, placed in the oven and waiting. Abot 10 minutes later, my sweet little Sara comes running to me and says "fire mommy', not sure what she was talking about, I went to the kitchen to look. Sure enough there was a fire in the oven. I quickly turned off the oven, assessed the situation and pulled out the baking dishes I had my food in. There was a plastic plate (that previously had cookies on it) that someone hid in the very top rack in the back (probably to try and hide the fact that there were no more cookies). The plastic had melted and dripped onto the heating coil and caused it to catch fire. The only thing I had on hand that could reach it was a container of flour, so that's what I did. I threw flour on it. The fire was out within seconds, but within the next few seconds we had to endure the high pitched sound of all smoke alarms going off in the house for about 30 minutes.

So lunch was not ready when my family got home, I had one heck of a mess to clean up, but thankful I still have a house standing. Who ever knew that a sweet little girl, who is a mere 33 inches tall and cute as ever would save the day? Thank you Sara Grace you are mommy's little hero!