The JBF Everett-Monroe Fall Sale sneek peek!

The Just Between Friends of Everett-Monroe Fall sale is in full swing and I have got boat loads of deals to share with you all!

Just Between Friends is a nationwide consignment event that takes place several times per year, typically in the fall and spring. You can find Just Between Friends of Everett-Monroe twice a year at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe, WA.  The JBF Everett-Monroe Fall sale is on through September 15th, 2018.

I guess I'm one of the few lucky ones where I have two daughters who are 2 years apart but they wear the same size! It can be troublesome sometimes though, because even though their sizes overlap, many times their style does not. So in some ways I get to save on shopping and laundry, but other times we have those fights were "I will NOT wear that, it's Ruby's!" or the other way around, "I want to wear that!" (but it's Penny's).  We fight the battles that are worth it, and agree to disagree on others. In a perfect world! ;)
In my experience, most single piece clothing items are priced under $7 (unless it is a speciality item like a snow suit or a high quality brand).  This basically brand new Columbia jacket, with it's strong vibrant purple, was only $12; brand new these are $40!
I have been on the look out for Carhartt overalls for my little guy. They are perfect for tromping around, especially on our property, protecting his knees and dressing just like his daddy! :)  I found these for $5.50 - and they retail $25! 75% off!
This set of 5 pieces was a whopping $11! 2 pairs of Kirkland brand thick leggings and 3 long sleeve shirts - so easily interchangeable! Also, are you noticing the leopard print theme here? That's Ruby, my 4 year old. 
I'm always looking ahead, so when I saw this 24 month full body swim suit for Holden plus the baby shark theme was just perfect. Anyone else have that song stuck in their head now?
Holiday clothes also cost an arm and a leg - but there was a great selection. Two holiday dresses totalling $15! Plus a more casual sweater and shirt combo for Holden was $4.


Shopping at JBF is always my favorite because it's such a huge selection of clothes, all sorted by size and it's easy to flip through the racks to shop. And of course, with my 4 and 6 year old daughters, they love to pick their own items and at the prices it's so easy to say "YES!" and encourage their own sense of style.  

I have been on the look out for Carhartt overalls for my little guy since .. well, he was a teeny tiny! I found these 2T overalls for $5.50, retailing $25, so about 75% off!

The sisters were due for new fluffy robes for the winter - this pair was $11. 

Also, shhh... don't tell the kids, but I snuck in a few stocking stuffers (small Moana figurines, My Little Pony, $1 DVDs, books and Magic Clip Dolls) AND a humongous bin of Lincoln Logs. Fingers crossed that Toddler-Zilla will allow the big sisters to enjoy their creations before knocking them down... For now, he is enjoying teething on a few of the logs while the sisters are in school. 

My average price per item was $4.45! Can't beat that!

Just Between Friends of Everett-Monroe 

Fall 2018 Sale

through Sept 15th

Full details here

Disclosure: this post was sponsored by Just Between Friends of Everett-Monroe. All photos and opinions are my own.

Back to School Clothes Savings! Just Between Friends of Everett/Monroe Fall Sale (GIVEAWAY)

As a mama of 2 school aged kids, fall gets me seeing dollar signs. BACK TO SCHOOL SHOPPING. Oy. Do you love it, or hate it? I love it for the organization and freshness of all things new. New pencils, new notebooks, rolling into my favorite season of the year, and the excitement that my kids have in picking out their school supplies.

...And yet, it's still quite pricey, even when you catch a break with some of the BTS sales! Don't get me started on back to school clothes and their prices. Luckily I am a deal hound and have zero qualms about buying children's clothes, toys and accessories second hand. Let's face it, most of the clothes that our children wear will not be used for a very long because kids grow so quickly! I love to shop around to find the best deals and I've found be best bargains and quality of used children's items at Just Between Friends sales.

Just Between Friends is a nationwide consignment event that takes place several times per year, typically in the fall and spring. You can find Just Between Friends of Everett-Monroe twice a year at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe, WA. 

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 and it's all conveniently located in one location for a weekend long sale. 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, in one fell swoop. It makes financial and ecological sense to buy used.

Mark your calendar for the upcoming  

Just Between Friends of Everett-Monroe Fall 2018 Sale

Sept 12 - 15, 2018

Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe, WA

See the full sale schedule here
The Pierogie Mama loves JBF Everett-Monroe and you will too because you can enter to win one of three $25 JBF bucks gift cards to shop at the Fall 2018 sale!
Enter in the giveaway widget below.

Entry-Form

What are you looking for at the next JBF sale?

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Just Between Friends of Everett. All opinions are my own.

9 tips for babywearing in hot weather

Here in Washington State, summer tends to be pretty mild until the end of July and then the furnace turns on in August. Anything above 80 degrees and this Rainy State gal melts like butter on the counter.

But, we still push through - and especially with now TWO school age kids (where has my time gone???), my summers are so precious to me and I let very little stop us. We made a summer bucket list at the start of the break with 25 things we want to do and sure enough - we have tackled almost all of them. But, now it's August, and it's like 85+ degrees every day and truly the thought of strapping Holden, my 1 year old, to me through a menagerie of babywearing choices, is about enough to take the wind out fo my sales.

So what do you do when it's hot outside and you babywear? Friends, let me give you a few tips that I've come across.

First, when reading through these points, as yourself the following questions:  What kind of climate are you in? Is it dry or humid? How hot does it really get? How old is your child? These will help guide you to making a decision that is best for you and your worn child(ren).

1. Consider your carrier material. It's hard to make a blanket comment about "this carrier is BEST for the hot weather!" because each person has their own unique temperature tolerance or material preference. However, it is generally recommended to opt for lighter weight, airy fabrics or carriers that incorporate materials for increased air flow.

My sister-in-love, who now lives in San Diego after being a Washingtonian for her whole life, is an Ergo veteran but during her third pregnancy became encouraged to start trying out wraps. She wanted something breezy yet supportive for the hot summer ahead, and started belly wrapping with her Wrapsody Haumea in the last week of her pregnancy. Talk about birthy vibes! You can see more about her thoughts on Haumea here.

2. How many layers are we talking about? Woven wraps vary greatly in thickness and heat based on what they are made of, so you may have a wrap that does not do well for you and baby in the heat. Opt for a single layer pass (such as FWCC) and shorter wrap lengths.

3. Consider what you are wearing. Dressing lightly is most ideal, but I always like to keep a light fabric between myself and baby during the heat because we both get sweaty and sticky. A small prefold between baby's head and my chest kept both of us happy. I also opt for a wide brimmed hat as it gives shade over the baby's head too.

4. What is your baby wearing? Same goes for baby as it does you!

5. Take the proper measures of sun protection for both of you, as with all outdoor play. Fabric provides minimal amounts of protection from the sun and parts of baby will be exposed outside of clothes and being tucked into their carrier or wrap. Use sunscreen often and stay in the shade or indoors during the hottest part of the day. Especially pay attention to exposed parts of baby's skin and adequately cover with sunscreen or other sun protection.

6. As developmentally appropriate, switch between front and back carry. Keeping my kids on my back helps cool me down, but it is also important to mention that another set of eyes on your child is helpful during hot weather since you won't be able to see their face as easily as with front carry. Be aware of how your child is doing back there, if they aren't in full sun or getting dehydrated.

7. On that note - hydration is key! Especially if you are breastfeeding, and your baby uses your milk for hydration as well. Keeping extra hydrated is important while babywearing in hot weather because you will inherently be hotter.

8. When I did a little bit of crowd sourcing for ideas on babywearing in the heat, chilly pads kept being recommended over and over! There are tons of companies who make it, and I can't recommend any specific one since I haven't personally tried them yet, but the idea is that they are made from a hyper-evaporative material that soaks up moisture quickly but stays dry to the touch. They are popular for athletics and working out.

9. And my final tip on babywearing in hot weather is...If it gets too hot for either of you, remove baby and head indoors immediately! No sense in forcing either of you to be so miserable and hot, right?

What are some of your summer babywearing tips?

Disclosure: This post was originally written by The Pierogie Mama for the Wrapsody Blog in 2016. 

10 Breastfeeding Memes

Where are all my breastfeeding mamas? This past week was World Breastfeeding Week and I realized that I have spent 75% of my parenthood nursing my three littles. 

Happy #worldbreastfeedingweek! In my 76 months of parenthood I have been breastfeeding for 75% of it! I have so many precious memories while snuggling and nursing these three lovebugs. This picture is one of my most cherished memories. My Penny has loved on her sister and brother countless times while they nursed.

A post shared by Bianca @ The Pierogie Mama (@thepierogiemama) on Aug 1, 2018 at 2:43pm PDT

My summer + fall finds at Just Between Friends of Marysville - Mount Vernon!

Just Between Friends of Marysville-Mount Vernon

Get your free ticket here!

April 26-29, 2018

Skagit County Fairgrounds, Mount Vernon WA

Just Between Friends sales feature clothes, toys, furniture and any other gear that you'll need for your kids from birth to teens at truly fair prices.  I can always count on finding "the basics" of each season for my three children, but I always find something new and unexpected too! And the best part is while I'm saving money on my end, my dollars are also providing for another local family through purchasing their consigned items. Win-win! 

Today I got to shop at the exclusive pre-sale event (pssst! Did you know that consignors and volunteers get that special privilege? Sign up for the next event!) and even though I am now shopping for three kids, one of whom is a total fashionista and definitely has an opinion on style, it was not overwhelming at all. Each size is clearly marked off on the long rows of clothing racks. It's easy to peruse through everything all at once. My middle child, Ruby (age 4), is now coming of age where clothes are beginning to matter to her as well, so she can easily flip through the bottom rung of the rack and show me things that she likes. Pretty much all things unicorns and sparkles.



Skagit County is a close knit community and it was fun running into a few of my bestie mama friends, as well as see quite a few recognizable faces. That Mama Gretchen, a real life friend of mine, is also showing off her finds so be sure to pop over to her facebook and instagram! P.S. can I say how much I adore her? She brought her brood of 4 kiddos, plus Ruby ended up spending a lot of time with them as well! I obviously love her for more than that little tidbit, but I felt like it was worth mentioning because shopping with 4 kids is not for the faint of heart! 

So without further adieu, I will show you what you might find at the sale this week!

I spy a BOB stroller! Tons of options at different price points.

 Babywearing! Whether you are a seasoned pro or trying it out for the first time, always great variety. Including this adorable TULA!

 There was a change at this sale that I appreciated - boys and girls shoes were put together according to size. At previous sales you'd have a rack of boys stuff and another of girls stuff. But shoes can be so gender neutral sometimes! Including KEENS (which is what I snag for the kids every time, but this time - I got a pair for myself!!).

 Remember how I said Ruby wants "all things unicorn"? Too bad that these were just a tad bit too small! A few tears were wept and I promised that the child that would get them would love them as much as she would.

See what I mean about something unique? You never know what piece of furniture a family is moving on from! I personally love toddler beds. Our kids cosleep with us until about 18 - 24 months and then they are ready for the toddler bed.

 Oh hai! This is my Mr. Cutie. He's 10 months old and growing too fast for this mama.

 A completely separate rack for team attire!

 Anyone going to Disneyland anytime soon? A whole BIN of different ears to choose from!

Also, here's a few of my finds. 

 It wasn't entirely intentional, but clearly I've got a theme going! They are just so cute.

 These three spring and summer dresses were under $10 total!

 RompHIMs for Holden! Haha! Whenever he isn't going to be crawling around in a shirt and diaper, of course.

 A few shoes. I always check for KEENS, Crocs and galoshes. This time I scored a set of KEENS for myself! The little croc Crocs are so cute, I couldn't say no.

 I found a unicorn sweatshirt and a cute "back to school" outfit for Ruby. I can't believe she will start preschool in the fall!

This is my pièce de résistance for the sale. 6 sets of pajamas for Holden - $11. A few of them were seriously only marked for a dollar!

What is on your kids' summer wardrobe must have list? Don't miss the Just Between Friends of Marysville - Mount Vernon, at the Skagit County Fairgrounds in Mount Vernon, WA.

Thursday, April 26th | Opening Day!

10:00a -7:00p • Admission $2/door, FREE/online

Friday, April 27th

10:00a – 6:00p • Free admission

Saturday, April 28th | Half Price Day!10:00a – 7:00p • Free Admission

Sunday, April 29th | Up to 75% Off Day!

8:00a – 1:00p • Free Admission

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

All opinions are my own. Please see giveaway rules for full details. 

Bring on the savings! Just Between Friends of Marysville-Mount Vernon Spring Sale!

Beautiful Skagit Valley in the Spring. The tulips are just now blooming, but we've had daffodils for a few weeks. #skagittulipfestival #skagitvalley #skagitmom #tuliptown #mountvernon #tulips #tulipfield #pnwisbest #upperleftusa

A post shared by Bianca @ The Pierogie Mama (@thepierogiemama) on Apr 7, 2017 at 8:39am PDT

Just Between Friends of Marysville-Mount Vernon

Get your free ticket here!

April 26-29, 2018

Skagit County Fairgrounds, Mount Vernon WA

There are a few things that I really love about Skagit County in the spring. Firstly, the tulips. DUH. If you haven't seen it yet, you usually have the whole month of April. Come on an overcast week day for lower (or non-existent) crowds and seriously, you'll be in love.

Secondly, Snow Goose Produce, opens around the first weekend of March. This has become my family tradition to get us all out there for some humongous ice cream cones in celebration of my two daughters' birthdays, which are both in early March. Snow Goose is also a great place to get cut flowers and local produce throughout the rest of the growing season and can't miss stop if you're up here for the Tulip Festival.

A tulip variety called "light and dreamy." As seen at Tulip Town in Mount Vernon, WA. These are on my order list for fall planting! #skagittulipfestival #skagitvalley #skagitmom #skagit #skagitvalleytulipfestival #tulips #tuliptown #skagittulips #pnwisbest #upperleftusa #mountvernon

A post shared by Bianca @ The Pierogie Mama (@thepierogiemama) on Apr 7, 2017 at 8:42am PDT

Thirdly is that all of this gorgeous blooming and springtime weather gets me into spring time cleaning mode; which means cleaning out closets and purging forgotten toys and making way for bigger sizes and new gear for the spring and summer...all thanks to Just Between Friends!

I blog about JBF a couple times a year and it's for a good reason - I save so much money each time I shop and I also earn almost the same amount back by consigning. As a single income family, with three growing kids, that's kind of a big deal!

Just Between Friends sales feature clothes, toys, furniture and any other gear that you'll need for your kids from birth to teens at truly fair prices. It's a wide range of brands and styles that will catch your eye. I always find something unique that I wouldn't find at any old department store! And the best part is while I'm saving money on my end, my dollars are also providing for another local family through purchasing their consigned items. Win-win! Rather than doing online meet up shopping, where you never know if you'll get stood up or if the items are what you thought they were, shopping at JBF is great because you have the leisure to look around at thousand of items in each clothing size, comparing in pricing but also have a standard of quality that ensures what you buy is in great condition. Each consigned items is inspected for wear and tear, as well as recalls, so you can rest assure that what you get is priced fairly, in great condition and safe.

I'm excited to continue my partnership with Just Between Friends of Marysville-Mount Vernon, and Courtney (the owner) has offered advance ticket options for Pierogie Mama readers! Keep reading because we are also offering a pair of presale tickets for one lucky winner!

Entry-Form

Thursday, April 26th | Opening Day!

10:00a -7:00p • Admission $2/door, FREE/online

Wednesday, April 25th | Presale Day! TICKET REQUIRED. Space is limited.

1:30p – 8:00p • Admission $20/door or $15/online

3:00p – 8:00p • Admission $15/door or $10/online

4:00p – 8:00p • Expecting Parents Shop 

4:30p – 8:00p • First Time Parents Shop

5:00p – 8:00p • Teachers and Military Shop

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

All opinions are my own. Please see giveaway rules for full details. 

Just Between Friends of Everett-Monroe Spring Sale Preview!

Today may go down as my best JBF shopping event ever! I kept seeing items at this sale that I just couldn't walk away from. And at the prices, honestly, it wasn't that hard to convince myself otherwise!

Just Between Friends consignment sales are a weekend long event that allow local families to consign their baby through teen and maternity clothing and items. Shoppers have an enormous, and I mean ENORMOUS, selection to look through. I spent about 2 hours looking through clothes and gear for my 3 kids and know that I could have spent more time looking if it wasn't for their patience running out.. and bless their hearts for lasting that long for me!

Just Between Friends of Everett-Monroe Spring Sale

Full Schedule Here

Evergreen State Fairgrounds, Monroe WA

April 4-7 2018

I always like to post what I found so that you have an idea of what is at the sale. I am truly surprised each time I shop because there's something unexpected. Like this darling little table with three chairs. Honestly, I'm not sure where I'm going to put it, but I am going to find out!

I also had another baby gate on my wish list and was so happy to find that there were about 8 different types.

My girls are now 6 and 4 so this time I allowed them to pick out their clothes and had the final day. It had been fun watching their different styles develop. My kindergartener was also beginning to learn how to 'bargain shop' and we talked about what I considered to be a fair price for different items.

Here's some snaps of other fun stuff we found!

Finally...Here's a couple sets of clothes that I got with their approximate retail value with how much I actually paid at JBF. Can't beat this!

So head over to the Evergreen State Fairgrounds this weekend to get your kids stocked up for summer!

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

All opinions and photography are my own.