The Just Between Friends kids & maternity consignment event is coming up again starting Thursday September 8th and running till Sunday September 11th.  The first day is dedicated to a select group of people including military families, teachers, first-time parents & grandparents, and adoptive or foster families.  But the last three days are open to the public.  See the schedule for each day’s special events and times.

This is one of my most favorite family consignment events, and every year it grows larger in size.  Of course, it’s easy to also get overwhelmed because the sale is so huge.  So to help us out in getting the most out of this sale, I’m turning this blog over to Jennifer Hundley, a local mom here in Sonoma County AND the co-founder of the Northbay’s Just Between Friends sale event.

Tips to Getting the Most out of the Fall/Back to School Just Between Friends Kids & Maternity Consignment Event
by Jennifer Hundley

Preschool started one week too early in our household.  Digging thru my three-year-old’s closet revealed shorts, t-shirts, flip-flops, pants two inches too short and more shorts!  Reality is, the Just Between Friends Fall/Back to School event this week can’t come fast enough (Sept. 9-11).  If you haven’t been to a JBF sale, get ready to be ABSOLUTELY FLOORED!  Imagine 27,000 square feet packed with bargains on clothes, toys, books, games, DVD’s, outdoor equipment, boutique items and well, just about everything you can imagine you might need for your growing family.  This isn’t just an event for preschoolers, but for expecting moms, babies, kids and preteens and it only rolls around twice a year.

Here’s my top 8 tips to maximize your children’s and maternity consignment sales event:

*Bring a List – 27,000 square feet full of 55,000+ items can be overwhelming. Look in your kids’ closets to see what they already have and what they need. The bargains are just too good.  Last thing you want is to get home only to realize you forgot to pick up rain boots or a warm jacket. Make sure you know your kids measurements (waist, inseam, dress length, arm length) and shoe size.

*Volunteer – Want first crack at the best selection and biggest bargains?  All you have to do is volunteer a few hours of your time and you’ll earn a pass to shop early!

*Head Straight to the Big Items 1st – These tend to go fast and you stand to save the most money on nursery furniture, strollers, bassinettes, pack n plays, bikes, car seats, etc.  Next check out the toys, bedding, books and DVD’s before scouting out the clothing.  The clothing is amazing, but there’s always racks and rack to peruse after you’ve laid claim to the big-ticket items.

*Holidays – think it’s too early to shop the holidays?  Think again…Halloween is next month.  Pick your little monster up a pumpkin outfit.  Why break the bank this holiday season? You can always find brand new and gently used toys, books, DVD’s, etc.

*Use that smart phone – Want to know if that BOB stroller really is a steal?  Free apps such as RedLaser allow you to scan the original barcode providing you with pricing and other helpful information.  I found a new Ergo carrier still in the box for 50% off at the last sale!  I wouldn’t have known what a bargain I was getting without this nifty (and fun!) technology!

*Shopping Bags/“Vessels” – Be green.  Bring a re-usable bag (or bags) to shop and to bring your bargains home in.  Laundry baskets with a belt or rope work great to pull your items instead of carrying them.

*Be Flexible & Plan Enough Time to Shop – Carve out some time to shop. Don’t put yourself in a rush or you may get frustrated. JBF is a big sale and you may have to wait in line to check out.  Be sure and wear comfy shoes!

Book the Sitter – You may find it easier to shop this event without your children.  If you must bring your kiddos, be sure and bring snacks and drinks for them.  The sale can be overwhelming to kids.

First time moms, grandparents, adoptive or foster parents, teachers/daycare providers/homeschool teachers and military all get to shop the presale.  SCORE!  However, if you want first dibs on some of those items like kids’ furniture or boutique clothing, you might consider volunteering.

Last sale I overheard a mom on her cell phone telling her friend “It’s just like Black Friday, but the deals are even better!”  This put a smile on my face as this is exactly how I feel about Just Between Friends!

Here’s a link to register:  www.jbfsale.com/northbay.  Got any helpful tips?  Did you find any great bargains at the last sales?  I’d love to hear about them, so do share!

Jennifer Hundley and her husband Matt organize the Just Between Friends North Bay events.  Jen is a native Sonoma County resident and a mom to a three and a half year old.  She and her husband are proud to serve their community via their consignment events and by volunteering for their local Active 20-30 service club.  When not working or volunteering, you’ll find Jen and her husband running after the seagulls in Bodega or playing at Howarth Park with their son!

The Just Between Friends Sale will be held at the Hall of Flowers building at the Sonoma County Fair in Santa Rosa.  See the schedule for each day’s special events and times.

To see photos of past Just Between Friends sales, click here.  Here are some from previous events:

Store front of Kidz Swap (photo credit: Janelle Amer)

Kidz Swap, the consignment store for kids and maternity, is becoming a big one year old on September 7^th!  To celebrate their first 12 months of business, they’re holding their birthday celebration all week long.  Genius, I say, because everyone should party it up for a whole week when their birthday rolls around.  Beginning September 6^th through September 10^th, they’ll be offering birthday cake and treats for the kids.  Come see why Kidz Swap is a favorite place to shop for young families with their great prices, new items, and fun for both kids and their grown-ups!

Hours: Tues-Sat 10am-5pm

If you wish to sell your unused or outgrown children’s items (clean, and in good condition), deliver them by Friday August 12th to Tiny Hinies’ consignment store located at 957 Golf Course Drive in the Mountain Shadows Plaza, Rohnert Park during regular business hours. Call 584-7242 or visit their page on Facebook for more information.

Cupcake, that trendy boutique for little ones and mamas-to-be, are clearing out their summer inventory in preparation for their autumn lines. So what does that mean for you? Awesome savings on some of the most adorable clothing out there! All spring clothing, shoes, and accessories are 30% off Friday August 12th – Sunday August 14th. Even maternity tops are making their way into the sale. But three days is not a long time to save some dough on your favorite designers, so be sure to head on over to either the Healdsburg store (107 Plaza St, Healdsburg) or the Santa Rosa store before closing time on Sunday (641 Fourth St, Santa Rosa).

What are you waiting for?  Go get adorable!

So what were the Lagasses doing here in Sonoma County, shopping at one of our favorite children and maternity stores? Obviously they were kicking it up a notch.

Karl Johnson, a nationally renowned silhouette portrait artist with Cut Arts, will be the at Cupcake’s next in-store event in Santa Rosa on June 7th from 1-5pm, and on June 8th in their Healdsburg store from 1-5pm. Watching his video on YouTube, I was amazed at the speed and precision with which he cut out his subject’s silhouette. He has been featured in over 30 publications and has cut the silhouettes of several celebrities, including Jennifer Lopez, Reese Witherspoon, and Marc Anthony. And Martha Stewart named him the best wedding idea in 15 years.

This would make a wonderful memento of your child while they are still young, capturing their likeness in such a unique way. And this is why Cupcake couldn’t resist having Karl as their artist for their monthly in-store event. The cost is only $25 per portrait, $15 for a duplicate, and an additional $16 for a framed portrait. Amazingly enough, appointments can be made in 5 minute increments – meaning you can have the whole family done in 20 minutes!

Appointments are required. To schedule an appointment with Karl Johnson, call Cupcake at either location, stop by one of the stores, or email them at service@shopcupcake.com. It’s recommended that you contact them soon because this event was extremely popular the last time they had Karl in.

To find out more on this event, visit the blog at Cupcake’s website.

Cupcake is a children’s and maternity boutique that offers some of the cutest trends in baby, toddler, and pregnancy fashion. If you have little ones, are expecting a new addition to your family, or are looking for a special gift for a friend, this is definitely the shop you’ll want to check out.

Healdsburg Cupcake
107 Plaza Street, Healdsburg
(707) 433-3800

Santa Rosa Cupcake
641 Fourth Street
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
(707) 579-2165

Healdsburg store in its beginning stages.

Cupcake, one of our darlings in Santa Rosa baby boutiques, just became an older sibling!  The newborn Cupcake was born on Saturday March 12th and weighs a little over a ton, located right at the Plaza Square in Healdsburg.  And like its older sibling, the Healdsburg Cupcake holds tons of chic maternity wear and adorable outfits for babies and toddlers.  But the difference is it carries different labels from the Santa Rosa store, so each boutique promises a vastly new shopping spree experience while also promoting some very talented local clothing designers. 

The store has been under the design expertise of Ty Jones who is giving it a “Farmhouse Chic” motif to die for.  The photos I have so far are the new store in its infant stages.  But the store has grown to hold some gorgeous clothing lines for mom and baby alike.  The Healdsburg Cupcake includes designs from Fore Axel & Hudson, True Religion, Zebi Baby and Persnickety for kids, and LA Made, Michael Stars, and Paige Jeans for pregnant women.

The new Cupcake in Healdsburg will be holding an exciting opening celebration on Saturday March 19th, just in time for the Healdsburg Sidewalk sale going on the same weekend (stay tuned for more details on this…).  Singer/songwriter James K will be there to perform a kids’ concert from 11am-noon.  From 2-4pm will be face painting.  And throughout the day there will be cupcakes from Sift Cupcake and Dessert Bar, balloons, and prizes to be raffled off.

Check out the newest arrival in Healdsburg, and bring the kids for some fun and excitement at their opening day celebration!

Out with the old, in with the new.  At Cupcake, this means that adorable outfits for your stylish toddler or the pretty maternity wear you coveted during the season are now reduced 30%, and 50% off already marked down items.  The sale starts today and goes through February 2^nd.  Sales like this don’t come around every day at Cupcake, so be sure to stop by and check them out!

Want to be kept up to date on each day’s sale offering? Become a fan of their Facebook page or visit their website. From there, you can join their mailing list.

Check them out over at 641 Fourth Street in Santa Rosa.