CONSIGNMENT SALES
Tis the season!  If you live in Northern Virginia, mark MARCH 24 on  your calendar for the following sales–
 
1- Calvary Road Baptist Church consignment sale.  The sale is 8 am – 2 pm.  Learn more at www.crbc.org.  If you visit this sale, I might see you there!  It’s half price after 12:30 pm.

2- 8 a.m. — 1 p.m. Grace Weekday Preschool and the MOMS Club of Springfield are sponsoring a sale featuring slightly used and like-new maternity and children’s items. Grace Presbyterian Church, Springfield. 703-451-3314.

3- 8 a.m. — noon. Items include children’s clothing, equipment, toys, books and maternity gear. Benefits charities. St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Arlington. 703-351-8138.

IMPORTANT WEBSITE
While I typically highlight financial sites, this newsletter, I want to share an incredible site for those who want to know about criminals living in their community.  I have young children and I think this site is important for all parents to visit at least once a quarter.  Go to www.familywatchdog.us to see who might be living in your community.  Thank you Carol for sharing this website!

EASTER BASKET IDEAS
Here are 4 ideas that might help you with this year’s gifts.

1-Make sure you have at least one “gift” item that reflects the true meaning of Easter—- the resurrection of Christ!  Whether you choose a book or DVD or a Bible, give a gift with eternal significance!  Check out www.christianbook.com for ideas and sales.

2-Instead of a basket, consider filling a toy, plastic bucket.  Then, when it’s time to go to the beach or pool, your child is ready!  Buckets seem to last longer than baskets plus they are useful.  If you choose a basket, make sure you put it in a safe place after Easter morning so you can “recycle” and use it at least another year in a row!

3-Instead of overflowing the basket/bucket with candy, why not fill it with books or puzzles or some type of game?  I even give each of my kids a spring/summer outfit.  In the last two years I have tried to ensure the buckets are 50% or less candy.  This is also a great time to give sun glasses, visors, flip-flops, pool toys, bubbles and anything else your child enjoys during Spring and Summer.

4-Check out savings at local Christian bookstores both before and after Easter.  After Easter deals are great to store for next year!  Family Christian Bookstores often have sales/deals at the cash register, including DVDs (these also are great for birthday party gifts).

5-Fill a few of those plastic eggs with coins.  You can use the opportunity to teach your child the value of money.  Also, encourage your children to give some of “the Easter money” during Easter church service!  Children love to give!

6-Crafts and hobbies are great bucket/basket gifts.  Maybe some of your school supplies you purchased during the Fall back-to-school specials will come in handy!  My daughter loves to make crafts.  I enjoy giving her stickers, craft supplies, and washable markers. Check out www.orientaltrading.com. 

EXCURSIONS
a-On March 31, the National Cherry Blossom Festival starts with a kite festival.  Take a picnic and check out the free activity.  More details are at www.kitefestival.org and www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.com.  The Smithsonian Kite Festival takes place on the National Mall near the Washington Monument.  Don’t forget your jacket!  It tends to be cold and windy near the tidal basin.

b-Check out at www.washingtonparent.com the monthly calendar of events when you’re searching for ideas.  Also, you can print a free “source book” at this site.  The book includes information about a variety of events and locations to tour.  Keep this book in your van so that when you’re on the go, you have information and telephone numbers with you!

c-My family enjoyed the Marine Corps Museum at Quantico, VA.  Not only is it free, but very patriotic!  This site would be great for visiting guests or for families who want a great outing.  We visited on a Monday in January and the facility was not crowded.  I would expect the museum has a heavier weekend crowd.  There is plenty of room to navigate strollers and to let children run and explore.  Free parking as well!

TIME SAVING TIPS
1-Keep cards, envelops and stamps with you so you can utilize “waiting time.”  Whether waiting for a doctor’s appointment or waiting for your child’s soccer practice to end, you can re-claim 5-15 minutes by catching up on correspondence if you keep these items with you.  Consider keeping a small stash with your van or in your daytimer. When you buy stamps, buy in bulk to avoid repeat trips to the post office.

2-On Sunday evening, prior to starting your busy week, pack snacks in sandwich-size bags.  Place them in a convenient location in your kitchen.  Then, when you’re grabbing snacks for your child, they’re already prepared.  You can also save money by purchasing your favorite snacks in bulk and then packaging them yourself for daily consumption.  Another hint—Tell your child to return the snack bags so you can recycle them. For chips, crackers, etc., this recycling idea works well.  Thanks to Donna for this tip!

3-Here’s a new one for working moms!  Wash your daughter’s tights and/or your hosiery while you take your shower.  I also wash my daugher’s hand-wash sparkle and glitter tops during my shower time.  This might saw you only 30 seconds each day, but if you have many hand washable items, and you do this over the course of a year, you will save 30-60 minutes.  And when you’re working outside the home, every minute counts!  If you have a daughter like mine, you have tights and a sparkle shirt to wash nearly every day.  So, this idea can save you a minute or two weekly. 4-Organization helps reduce time wasted looking for lost keys, misplaced homework, etc.  Even if you only organize a few areas of your life, better to do this and save what time you can!5-Laundry is a chore that can be “done” while you’re doing something.  I load my laundry in the washer within 10-15 minutes of awakening.  Then, by the time my shower is complete or I’ve packed my lunch, I can put it in the dryer.  When the next morning comes, I repeat this routine and fold a load of clothes while I’m waking up or thinking about my day.  I try to never do laundry during peak times of my day.  I keep my “valuable energy and brain cells” for work and important priorities, like my family…not on chores!  To save money with laundry, make sure your loads are full.  Wash with cold water and use a mixture of detergents.  I mix inexpensive detergent from The Dollar Tree with name brands in a large pail.  This way, I get clean clothes without paying large amounts for detergents.  I get great results!