Bargains, we got bargains! Or, Wherein I lose any men readers I might have had...

I mentioned earlier that I went to the semi-annual (bi-annual? Must look that up), anyway, twice a year, used children's clothing sale with Alysa this weekend. I'd love to say that I buy used clothes for my children because I'm going green and trendy and everything that goes along with this new economic state we all find ourselves in, but I have been about the used clothes forever. I think it's because my mom was a missionary. I've spent countless hours with her in what she calls "my little shops" aka resale stores. I just can't comprehend paying all retail all the time.

Besides, it's FUN. It's a blast to find beautiful clothes, sometimes with the tags still on, for a fraction of the original price. I don't know about you, but I don't even like going in to Gymboree. They make the absolute cutest kids' clothes, but they're ridiculously priced (in my opinion). Yet after you see them, nothing else compares.

Anyway, up at the crack of dawn, armed with our laundry baskets and our dollar admission fee, we hit the sale. If you want to see pictures of the madhouse, Alysa documented it here. After about two hours (apx. 30 minutes of which was spent standing in the long line to check out), we emerged with our bargains. Alysa had already given Lucy a ton of summer playclothes from her little girl, Maddie. What I was really looking for were a Spring casual coat for Lucy, dress coats for both girls, a few playclothes for Elaine, and some dresses for both. Here are just a few of the things I found...

A Gymboree dress for Elaine...



This capri outfit Alysa and I just died over for Elaine...



The next two Gymboree outfits with tags still on for Elaine...





Another play outfit...



Something to dress up in...



Here is a Gymboree play outfit for Lucy...



A Laura Ashley dress for Lucy...


One of the big finds of the sale: a Bonnie Belle dress and coat for Lucy... Another woman was holding this and contemplating it for her daughter. I heard her say, "I think this is just too small for her." I said, "If you decide not to buy that, please don't hang it back up, just hand it over!"


I also found Lucy a like-new lined raincoat to wear to school (not pictured here because she's actually wearing it at school today) and...drum roll please....almost-matching Spring dress coats.


While we were standing in line to check out, we spotted another dress I just had to have for Lucy. It was a pink top with a black skirt and a pink ribbon around the waist with black polka dots. She looks just like a little flapper in it. I don't have a picture of it because we went over to see my mom on Sunday afternoon and to show her all the bargains. The girls put on a fashion show for her, and we forgot the black and pink dress there. Mom's missionary heart was completely satisfied at all our finds.

The grand total for all this? (Keep in mind there are more dresses and playclothes not even pictured here!)--$107.00.

And that was the Spring sale! Alysa had never been before, but I believe I have a convert. One of the best rules of the sale is "No kids allowed unless you can wear them." All of ours are certainly beyond the Snugli/Baby Bjorn stage, so we are forced to attend without them. It breaks our hearts, but it must be done. And if the two hours for the sale happens to extend into an entire day, that's just a sacrifice we'll have to make. We're already planning for the September one!