Thanks for the sweet "new" ride Mama! - Charlie, 2004
What do a Little Tikes Cozy Coupe, a Maclaren stroller, a wooden train table and a pair of immaculate Mary Jane Robeez have in common?
Other than being completely overpriced but cute accessories of kid-dom, I have found them all at thrift stores and consignment sales!
But my blogging buddy Thrift Store Mama is THE QUEEN of the thrift sale. And if she, one of the best DC area bloggers, says that the University Park Co-Op Annual Spring Children’s Clothing and Toy Sale is one of the best DC area consignment sales, well, then you know it’s going to rock.
It’s going down next Saturday May 1 from 10am – 12pm at the Riverside Presbyterian Church in University Park, MD. University Park is just half a mile from downtown Silver Spring, right across the PG/MoCo border. The church is located at 6513 Queens Chapel Rd, University Park, MD, 20782.
This sale only lasts for two hours and then the stuff is gone – it’s THAT good. There will be oodles of quality pre-washed and very gently worn clothing for babies to teens, seasonal items (any one looking for Little Tikes gear for the backyard and completely sick of trolling Craig’s?), books, toys, sports equipment, baby gear and even maternity clothes.
Be sure to note that the sale is cash only.
Thrift Store Mama & me
Thrift Store Mama advises that there are two different playgrounds within a two minute walk of the church where the sale is being held, and Downtown College Park and the College Park Aviation Museum are just 4-7 minute drives north of the church. Her insider recommendation: Bring the entire family, sure, but have Dad take the kids to the playground while Mom shops, or vice versa, since it can get pretty overstimulating inside.
Happy hunting!
Starting on Saturday April 17, the family-friendly and eclectic Fenton Street Market will be happening every Saturday this spring from 9am-3pm. This outdoor market is located at the corner of Fenton Street and Silver Spring Avenue, Downtown Silver Spring, MD. It is a ton of fun with indie crafters, vintage finds, home-grown and homemade foods, antiques and more from 60+ vendors. There will also be live music and interactive programs for kids and shoppers.
Created by resident Hannah McCann as a way to bring together and celebrate the eclectic and vibrant Silver Spring community, Fenton Street Market promises fun and excitement from week to week! Everyone with a service or product of value to the community is encouraged to apply to participate in the market – apply here.
You can also become a fan of the Fenton Street Market on Facebook and follow it on Twitter.
Thank you to everyone who came out for the Polarn O. Pyret and A Parent in Silver Spring Moms Night Out!
We had a wonderful time at Be With Me the Playseum making mom-friendly crafts and noshing on all the treats owner Gina provided, and sipping wine from Stromboli (located across the street and the perfect place to grab a kid-friendly lunch after play!)
And of course, ohhhing and ahhing over the clothes.
Even if you missed this great evening, you can still get this fabulous discount on Polarn O. Pyret clothing exclusive to A Parent in Silver Spring readers for three days only:
20% off AND Free Shipping!
Just enter coupon code APARENTPOP at checkout. Coupon expires on Sunday March 28.
A huge thanks to Polarn O. Pyret for hosting this incredibly generous party for my readers and friends.
And another big thanks to PO.P – they literally gifted me the items that I jokingly blogged that I coveted: the preppy/Morrissey chic button-down for Charlie and the St. Tropez bebe swimsuit for Eve. And then I felt weird that I got stuff for free and that was the perfect excuse to shop. I bought the following GORGEOUS infant pieces for my new niece Abbey: flutter sleeve top, floral eco pajamas and the striped sailor onesie.
Special thanks to Baby Buncher extraordinaire Linda for coordinating the entire party, Tales2Go and Tracey Weil, Love Live Images and Mary Gardella, Tech Savvy Mama, WhyMommy of Toddler Planet, Mommy Needs a Cocktail, Household Tips queen bee Nicole, De in DC of A Spiced Life, Jodifur, Thien-Kim of Passion and Art, Sue of Laundry for Six, Janel of digilang, Urban Mama Sandie, and everyone else who reads and attended – it was so great to meet you in person!
Polarn O. Pyret hosted the party for my readers and friends and generously gave me two pieces of clothing for my children (and then I personally bought some more.) I am not being compensated in any additional way for promoting this business, and the opinions I have expressed about the high quality and great style of the clothing are genuine.
Photo Stacey Vaeth
Mirasa Designs is an online store of gorgeous handmade gifts for babies and children. Using the traditional Indian ari and kantha embroidery techniques and bright, happy colors, these are truly unique presents to bestow at the next baby shower or birthday. All of the stuffed animals, pillows and other products are fair trade, and with each purchase, a donation is made to Room to Read, a foundation dedicated to promoting education in developing countries.
EVENT & 10% OFF
Want to see these beautiful products in person and have a fun family playdate? Then mark your calendar for next Saturday’s event in Mount Pleasant! From 4-7pm on Saturday February 27 at the Past Tense Studio 3253 Mount Pleasant Street NW there will be juice for the kids, wine for parents and fun playtime and shopping. If you attend the event and leave a comment here, you’ll receive 10% off your purchase by bringing a printout of your comment on A Parent in Silver Spring. If you’re planning on attending, you can RSVP to Mirasa owner and artisan Aashumi Shah at aashumi@mirasadesign.com.
Photo Stacey Vaeth
GIVEAWAY & GIFT WITH PURCHASE
To celebrate the launch of her line and show the love to all you readers that live in the U.S., Mirasa Designs is giving away a lovely Lion Wristband (pictured at right) that babies, toddlers and little kids can all enjoy. One winner will be drawn from the comments on this post. Just go to Mirasa Designs and then comment here with the product you like best. The winner will be randomly drawn on Sunday February 28.
And get this, if you make a purchase at Mirasa, you’ll receive exclusive gifts with purchase: your purchase will arrive in a special 100% cotton handmade gift tote and accompanied by a set of four handmade notecards featuring the charming Mirasa animals – a rhino, hippo, monkey and giraffe. To receive these special gifts, all you have to do is type A Parent in Silver Spring in the comments section at checkout.
No compensation or free products were received for this review, it’s all for the love of the readers and the promotion of a local woman’s wonderful new busness and event!
Kristin Callahan of Adelaide Photography is a master in the art of photography, and she really captured the beauty of our kids in a recent photo session at our home. We are so pleased with the results! You know how sometimes when you see photos of your kids taken by someone else, even if the shots are OK, they just don’t look like the kids you see everyday? Well, EVERY photo that Kristin took truly reflects the
essence of our kids’ personalities.
As a special giveaway to A Parent in Silver Spring readers, Kristin is slashing her prices in half for those parents that give her a call and set up an appointment this fall.
What an amazing opportunity to obtain professional photography of your family and document this special time in your lives.
Kristin specializes in photographing newborns, children and expectant mothers. She loves to capture newborn babies sleeping before they are two week old or document an expectant mother’s beautiful belly in an artful pose. (Every photograph she takes of babies could win a cutest baby contest.) Kristin started her work with children while working in a Head Start day care center and founded her photography specialty upon this comfort and joy of children. Kristin has been building her photography business and befriending Washington, DC area families since moving to the area two years ago.
Kristin works in both black/white and color photography. She uses digital photography which allows parents to view proofs online and share with family and friends. She likes to pose children in classic, natural poses, using small props or whatever the parents wish.
Kristin prefers to photograph children in their home environments, where they are comfortable and the photos can best reflect kids’ unique personalities. (And this was totally the case with our kids – they were completely at ease and had a great time with the shoot, which took less than one hour, including set up and a change into Halloween costumes!) You can view our favorites from the session on Flickr.
Thank you so much Kristin Callahan of Adelaide Photography!
Finally, a Christmas card photo without messing with that blasted timer!
FYI – APISS does not do paid posts. I truly believe in and endorse Kristin’s skill as a photographer and thus have waived the advertising fees for her beautiful banner ad on the site. And she totally rocks for taking these gorgeous pics of my family!
