Just Between Friends of Marysville / Mount Vernon Fall 2016 consignment sale haul!

Remember when I told you that the Just Between Friends of Marysville / Mount Vernon was coming to Skagit County? It's here! I am giving you a sneak-peek of what you can find at the sale, right here on The Pierogie Mama.

I love finding treasures at these consignment sales. Did you read the original American Girl series when you were a child? Kirsten and Molly were two of my favorites and I happened to find an almost complete paperback set of Kirsten and the full set of Molly in hardback. I was sad when I learned that my own collection wasn't saved, so finding these books is the start of regaining it for my own daughters. I have a 9 year old niece that has her own American Girl doll and has started reading the books, so I excitedly got these for her to put under the Christmas tree and they will get passed back to my girls when they are of age. But I'm also going to readily admit that I first thought of myself - I want to re-read them too!

At this sale I bought something that I haven't bought at a JBF sale before; and honestly was never sure if I would buy used. I found a Britax Frontier-85, a combination of a 5 point to booster seat with 4 years left on it until expiration. Buying used car seats is a tricky deal. Recalls, possible accidents and overall care of the car seat are difficult to keep track of when you are buying a used seat through a craigslist meet up or a facebook group. But why was I comfortable buying one from a Just Between Friends sale? Each JBF sale has a recall and car seat specialist on staff and when a car seat is brought in by a consignor it is inspected before it is accepted and put on the sale floor. I also educated myself on what to look for when buying a used car seat. I had the opportunity to actually talk with the consignor who brought it in, because I was volunteering during drop-off (more details at the bottom). Ultimately, buying a used car seat is not for everyone and is a tricky process, but for me all of my requirements lined up so I was comfortable buying it. And it was $65! I saved 75% off retail!

We stocked up on the typical Fall and Winter essentials in 3T and 5T. These long sleeve pajamas were $2-4 per set.

Frozen is still going strong in this house of little girls. My 4 year old spied this one from a mile away - and yes, I obliged.

So all in all - here was my total haul.

Including the car seat, my final price was $156.78. Retail would have been $567! 73% off retail! If I removed the $65 car seat, each of the clothing and book items was $3.65 each.

Just Between Friends of Marysville / Mount Vernon is going on September 30 - October 2, 2016 at the Skagit County Fairgrounds in Mount Vernon, WA. If you want to see what other great deals there are, definitely don't miss it!

Friday 9/30:
9am-8pm - $2 at the door, waived by preregistering for a free admission pass.

Saturday 10/1:
9am - 5pm - FREE admission
5:30pm - 7pm - $5 Half/ Price Presale, tickets need to be purchased in advance.
Consignors have the option to reduce their items to 50% off on the tail end of the sale. Look for tags that do not have a star and that item will be 50% off! 

Sunday 10/2: Half price day!
8am - 1pm - FREE admission, all items without a star on the tag will be 50% off. 

What did you find at this JBF sale?

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Just Between Friends of Marysville / Mount Vernon. 

All opinions and photography are my own.

Chicken Recipe Round Up!

Ladies, I love me some chicken. It's the main meat that I cook with! Here's a round up of Pierogie Mama chicken recipes that you can find here on the blog. Thanks to Foster Farms for sponsoring this post - where you can find so many more delicious chicken recipes!

Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta

 Apple Cider Chicken

Lime Cilantro Chicken Tacos

CopyCat Wendy's Crispy Chicken Caesar Wraps

Parmesan Chicken Cutlets with Lazy Girl Gnocchi

Do you have a favorite? Leave a comment!

MiaMily Hipster Babywearing Carrier Giveaway

Welcome to the MiaMily HIPSTER Plus Baby Carrier Giveaway

hosted by Maman on the Trail

She’s at it again, folks! Maman on the Trail is reviewing the next generation MiaMily HIPSTER and giving one away to a lucky reader!

The MiaMily HIPSTER Baby Carrier is a multifaceted baby carrier that allows you to safely and comfortably carry your baby in 9 different ways. It is unique in its design and has a built-in seat that allows for Baby to be worn facing out, while maintaining his or her legs in a healthy position. This same seat also prevents some serious back pain for you because it is ergonomically designed for hip holding, unlike your hips! Maman on the Trail reviewed the MiaMilly HIPSTER.

The MiaMily HIPSTER Plus is everything that we loved about its predecessor and more. The biggest change? The seat is now a pouch big enough for a diaper change (or more if you use ‘sposies). Other noticeable improvements are: anti-slip pad on the seat, two-way adjustment on the straps, Velcro that doesn’t cling to your clothing, and a larger cellphone pocket. The perfect, versatile, do-it-all baby carrier for all of life’s adventures!

And now for a full list of the MiaMily HIPSTER Plus’ amazing features…

1. Snap-on head cover (fits well in pocket when not in use).
2. Chest clip with padding.
3. Teething pads that wrap around straps and attach with snaps.
4. Two-way shoulder strap adjustment so you can adjust from the front and the back.
5. Double-shoulder carrier top with Duraflex buckles and auto-locking YKK zipper to attach carrier top to seat base (also found on single shoulder carrier top).
6. Wide waist band with Velcro that fits up to 43 inches/110 cm. (Not pictured, but also available: extender belt for waists up to 59 inch/150 cm)
7. Unique 3D hip seat with built-in storage. The hip seat base is intentionally built wide enough so that your baby’s hips rest in a healthy position, where his/her legs are lifted and supported at hip level and not hanging or dangling, thus allowing safe forward facing carry. The International Hip Dysplasia Institute has tested and approved the HIPSTER as a hip healthy product.
8. Anti-slip guard and extra padding on 3D hip seat.
9. (Not included with carrier) Single-shoulder carrier top with rotating buckle, shoulder pad and adjustable strap.
10. Zippered detachable front pocket layer that creates 2 pockets (also found on double shoulder carrier top), reveals a mesh vent when detached.
11. (Not included with carrier) Dual purpose front drool pad that gives baby a safe, clean place to teethe while also keeping the carrier clean.
12. Foldable travel bag that is stored inside its own pocket.
13. Side pocket, perfect for a cell phone.

For a full review of the MiaMily HIPSTER Plus Baby Carrier, check out this post by Maman on the Trail.

Enter the giveaway to win a MiaMily HIPSTER Plus Baby Carrier from Maman on the Trail!

Feeling lucky? Enter below for your chance to win a MiaMily HIPSTER Plus in your choice of in-stock colour. Come back for daily entries to increase your odds of winning. Good luck!

Entry-Form

Terms & Conditions: Open to residents of Canada and the USA, 18 years of age or older. Confirmed winner(s) will be contacted via email and have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be drawn. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. Prize fulfillment is the responsibility of the sponsor(s). Canadian winners must successfully complete a skill testing question. For questions or to see your product featured on Maman on the Trail blog contact Monica at http://www.mamanonthetrail.com/contact-me/

4 Tips for Shopping at Just Between Friends + JBF Marysville - Mount Vernon Giveaway!

Friends, you know I love Just Between Friends sales, and I am so lucky that I live so close to two of the best sales in Washington State! JBF Marysville-Mount Vernon is only a short skip and a hop from our new home and I am getting into my game mode. I'm tagging my items for consignment and writing up a list of what I'll need for my two daughters to last us through the next round of JBF sales (usually in the Spring). 

JBF Marysville-Mount Vernon is still new to Skagit Valley, so many of you might be new to what JBF is and what to expect. Let me clue you in on a few of my JBF shopping tips!

1.  Beeline to the items on your list that aren't clothes first. You can find strollers, toys, shoes and all sorts of gear at JBF in addition to clothes. Those "hot seller" items go fast, so I make sure I sort through those first. Clothes will always be there, but that double B.O.B. stroller or super marked down Ergo babywearing carrier probably won't be!

2. Like I mentioned before, start compiling a list ahead of time on what you're looking for. Think about the sizes and toys you'll need for the next 6 months or so, what kind of gear or helpful things you'd like to have. This upcoming sale is the "fall" sale, so be on the look out for cold weather and holiday items! That means think ahead for gifts too! 

3. Bring help! It's always more fun to shop with friends, right? This way you get a second pair of eyes on what is cute, extra hands with kiddos, or simply a budget enforcer. Depending on the age of your child, they may be a help or a distraction while trying to shop. I remember the first JBF sale that I went to after Ruby, my second child was born. Penny was 2 years old and Ruby was 2 weeks old. I wore Ruby in my NuRoo shirt and Penny hung out in the stroller.  It was kind of cool because that was Penny's first shopping experience where she started to express what kinds of outfits she'd like, but also harder because I was trying to squeeze a stroller into some tight spaces and also eventually had a toddler and baby melt down. Now that my kids are older, I will probably have them hang out with Grandma and Grandpa for my main shopping session, but I will probably bring them back for 1/2 off day and let them pick out some clothes too!

If you are bringing your children, don't fret! Pikachu is visiting JBF Marysville-Mount Vernon this time!

4. Have an idea of what the item is worth, and if it's a good deal or not. I write this as a note on my shopping list. I see something unexpected at the sale, I pull out my celly and do a quick google search to see what retail price is. I've snagged quite a few really good deals this way - 2 unopened bottles of BabyGanics sunscreen fro $5, new cases of Country Save detergent, and a wooden balance bike for over half off retail! The consignors try to keep prices competitive and you should expect at least 50% off retail at these sales, but sometimes the deal is not as good as you may think it is.

Have I gotten you pumped up for this sale yet?? It gets better! Just Between Friends of Marysville-Mount Vernon has partnered with The Pierogie Mama to get you some awesome prizes!

Just Between Friends of Marysville-Mount Vernon Fall 2016 Sale

September 29 - October 2

Skagit County Fairgrounds

more details here

Entry-Form

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Just Between Friends of Marysville - Mount Vernon. 

All opinions are my own. Please see giveaway rules for complete details.  Some design work was created through FreePik.

Just Between Friends of Everett-Monroe Fall 2016 Consignment Sale {Giveaway}

This is my first year of Back to School shopping. My oldest is now a pre-schooler.

How. Did. Life. Move. So. Fast??!!!

I've seen a ton of Facebook posts about parents who are scrambling through the department stores, seemingly run over by other Back to School parents, trying to get great deals on clothes but also hassling with sold out sizes. Even though Penny starts school in mid-September, I'm sitting back and waiting because...

JUST BETWEEN FRIENDS IS COMING, DUH!

Why?

Just Between Friends consignment sales are an awesome place to find a huge variety of clothes, at truly affordable prices. I've been shopping at these sales, which happen 2-3 times per year, and spend less than $100 on clothes, books and to and it all lasts me through the next season. Here are a few examples of what I've bought at previous sales, with their retail values:

Estimated retail: $149.06

























Really, can you go wrong with ANY of that?? It's pretty spectacular!

Just Between Friends is a nationwide consignment event that takes place several times per year, typically in the fall and spring. Just Between Friends of Everett-Monroe also holds a third sale at Everett Community College in the summer! 

At "JBF" you'll find everything you need for maternity, baby and child through teen. Local families consign their gently used and new items for 50-90% off retail prices. It's my favorite place to shop because I can get everything they need for each season for literally a fraction of the price of what I'd pay at the store. Not to mention, children outgrow clothes so quickly that it makes financial and ecological sense to buy used.

So mark your calendar for the upcoming  

Just Between Friends of Everett-Monroe Fall 2016 Sale

Sept 22 - 25, 2016

Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe, WA

See the full sale schedule here

I love partnering with Eunice, the owner of JBF Everett-Monroe, because she loves giving out prizes just as much as I do. She is offering 3 separate prizes for this sale! 3 Pierogie Mama readers will have the chance to win $25 JBF bucks, or two 2 Prime Time Shopping passes (winner can begin shopping as early as Thursday Sept 22 at 10am!) Enter in the giveaway widget below. 

Entry-Form

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Just Between Friends of Everett-Monroe. 

All opinions are my own.  The prizes will not be mailed to the winner, they will be available at check in.  Please see giveaway rules for full details. 

Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta

What is the main protein source for your family? Chicken is the primary meat that I serve. It's such an easy and versatile meat to cook. But in recent years, consumers have become more aware of the connection between how meat is raised to the effects it has on our bodies as well as the ethical reasoning behind treating production meat with care and dignity.

I've kept a small flock of laying hens for the last 3 years and raising them by hand has given me a new appreciation for the animals that provide food for us to eat. I am very mindful to teach my daughters that the eggs on their plate for breakfast didn't magically appear from thin air; and neither do any of the other ingredients that we are blessed to share at our table. My thought process isn't unique; in a recent study 85% of Millennial parents indicated that their criteria for buying meat and poultry has changed over the last several years, 42% cited having a child as the primary reason.  When I buy any kind of meat I prioritize on buying organic or antibiotic free. I also want to rest assured that the animal was treated with respect during its life and prepared for my table with dignity. That's why I chose Foster Farms Simply Raised fresh chicken for this meal. Simply Raised poultry never has any antibiotics, the chickens are fed an entirely vegetarian diet and are American Humane Certified. When the time of butcher comes, the meat is minimally processed without any additives, preservatives, steroids or hormones. It's also good to know that Simply Raised Foster Farms chickens are locally grown in the Pacific Northwest, so I'm not having to pay for transport time between the farm and the grocery store where I buy it. When it comes to store bought affordable chicken, you can't beat Foster Farms!

I can't talk about this delicious meat without giving you an equally delicious recipe, so here you go! This is a new one for our house, but a goodie that came over from the kitchens of That Mama Gretchen and her sister.

CREAMY PESTO CHICKEN PASTA 

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup basil, fresh and coarsely chopped
• 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 4 tablespoons pine nuts
• 3 cloves garlic 
• salt, pepper or Italian seasoning to taste
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 2/3 cup heavy cream
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 12 ounces cavatappi pasta
• 3-4 chicken breasts, cubed
• Extras: more Parmesan cheese and diced tomatoes

DIRECTIONS
1. To make your pesto, blend basil, Parmesan cheese, pine nuts and garlic in a food processor. Drizzle a little bit of olive oil, give it one more spin and set aside.
2. Prepare pasta as according to package directions, drain and set aside.3. Melt butter in a large skillet and slowly add in the cream, stirring constantly. Add the pesto, still stirring. Once it has thickened up pesto in and swirl it all around. Yum – pesto cream sauce! Add the drained pasta to the skillet and set aside.
4. In a separate skillet, pan fry your chicken cubes with a drizzle of olive oil.  Season to taste with salt and pepper or Italian seasoning. Cook until it is done.
5. Combine chicken with your pasta and sauce - and you're done! Plate it up and top it with Parmesan cheese and diced tomatoes. Bon Apetit! 

Looking for more inspiration?

 I call this the "Pinterest of Chicken Recipes" - you're bound to find a bunch of good, simple recipes that are renditions of good old fashioned comfort food favorites in there!  

Which one is your favorite recipe?

Disclosure: Thank you, Foster Farms, for sponsoring today's post 

and letting me share this deeeeeeeelicious recipe!