I had a great visit with Nikki this past week. It was a much needed vacation, but I’ll tell you, I am ready for more time off work. Though my next days off will be consumed by a squalling infant, I still think it’s preferable to sitting at a desk wishing that I was at home and not dealing with the normal office b.s.
Although I need to write another post about Philly since Nikki and I finally saw the U2 concert, I just have to share the awesomeness that was her last day in town with me. We went off to Annapolis, ready to tour around the city and make mayhem. Instead, while watching a homeless man play with a bit of wire, we saw a consignment shop and decided we’d walk into it’s air conditioned glory. I’m so glad that we did. Although they weren’t selling anything that we were interested in, when we asked about baby clothes and other things we were handed a Moonlight Madness Sale flyer, that had the names and addresses of about 15 other consignment shops in the area that were all having a 20% off sale. A sale on already inexpensive items? Why yes, and it was fantastic!!
Although the first stop was really far away and pretty much in a cornfield (where I began doubting that Nikki had put the correct address in the GPS) it was a GOLDMINE. Blooming Deals and Babies in Bloom was essentially a two store-front shop that was filled with treasures. This wasn’t the crappy, Southern Maryland thrift store of junk and unwanted items; no no, this was a shop where a person could do some real damage. From designer purses to clothes for women, children and babies (heck there might have been men’s clothes, but I wasn’t looking at that) this place was stacked with awesome stuff. They had a TON of stuff for kids. Gently used toys, baby seats, and again, did I mention the clothes. Nikki and I were in Heaven. Nikki generously purchased some items for the baby (oops, I almost typed her name, that is not yet ripe for official announcement!) that she couldn’t pass up, including the cutest little jacket on the planet. I bought some onesies that were all less than a dollar a piece, and most of them still had the tags on them. I even bought her two little bathing suits for next summer because no matter how hard I tried, my hands would not move to put them back. Come on people, there was a little duckie with an umbrella on one of them. What would you have done?
Although it was lunchtime, for once, the baby was cooperating and I wasn’t overcome by the need to eat, and Nikki was as high on shopping as I was. As we made our way back towards Annapolis, we stopped in Stevensville at Twice is Nice Consignment Boutique. I actually felt a little bad when we left because we got such great deals on our haul. When I first walked in, I found a baby swing that I that I thought would work great at my in-laws house. I had no intention of having one at home, but for the price, it was going to work great at the in-laws. ($33 after savings) After grabbing a bunch of 99cent onesies (that were seriously so cute I could puke) I happened upon a bag sitting by the back door of the shop. The contents of the bag was a very girly (but very cute) crib bedding set. I asked for a price and the owner said it had just come in and she’d have to price it out. I’d seen this brand of bedding online and it was usually pretty pricey, so I was thinking it wouldn’t be in the range I was willing to pay for a bedset that wasn’t my first choice. (and my first choice was so darned cute!) After a few minutes she comes back with a price…$66 (with discount). I almost shouted “Sold!” but managed to contain myself as she bagged up the 14 pieces (including 3 fitted sheets, a mattress pad, a lamp and a rug) Although not really my style, it looks AMAZING in the room with the dark crib. Here’s the link, but remember, I don’t like a ton of matching stuff and this room looks like a Cocalo Sugar Plum bomb went off in it.
So the day was a success. For under $150, I have a bag of clothes, a swing, an adorable-ish bedding set, and, the best part, I know how to get back to these places when our little girl gets older and I don’t have to spend a fortune dressing her. I was downright giddy by the time we left and at the end of the day, with my beloved Jimmy Johns in hand, it was really hard to say good-bye to Nikki; my partner in good deals crime.
Being Kate 