Something Surprised me this week!

I'll just admit it, no one brought stuff in for the few weeks before Christmas. It was maddening, and it scared me to death thinking you all forgot about us!

So, I ran an ad in the paper, did you see it?
It said:

"Clean your closet and let SmartyPants
turn the clothes you no longer wear
into COLD HARD CASH!"

Yipee, the day after Christmas alone 16 new consignors brought clothes, shoes and purses in. We even got 2 authentic coach purses which sold the first day we put them out!

What surprised me was the comments the girls who were bringing clothes in made:
"Wow, this is easy!"
"I thought I would need an appointment"
"You mean everything doesn't need to be on hangers?!"
"This is so awesome!"

I guess I just assumed everyone knew how easy we make it for you at SmartyPants, in case you didn't know...

No appointment needed
Bring in your stuff anytime that we are open
We can donate the items we do not accept
You can just drop it off and walk out, no need to sit and wait while we look thru everything
Just fold your stuff neatly and put it in a tote or laundry basket, we'll transfer it into our tote, give yours back, and you'll be on your merry way.

My daughter cleaned out her closet right before Christmas and has over $1o0 on her account, just enough to buy that new phone she's been wanting. Consigning at SmartyPants is by far the easiest money you'll make.

So, get in your closet today and start making a big pile of stuff you don't wear anymore then bring it to SP. We are accepting spring clothing starting right now; sandals, capri pants, tank tops etc., and we always need jeans, hoodies, & t-shirts.

See ya at the shop!!

Guess what I found at Wal Mart?!

Let's just say Wal Mart is not my favorite shopping destination. Low prices, yes. Relaxing, inviting shopping experience, ummm no. Sam Walton's heirs get way too many of my hard earned dollars as it is, but Christmas baking season is upon us, and that can only mean one thing...a Wal Mart run.

So, I cruised the parking lot looking for an empty space, found one, pulled in, stepped my foot into an ankle deep ice and slush puddle, soaking my shoe, sock, and the bottom of my jeans. The shopping trip was off to a great start.

Crummy attitude in place, I headed to the entrance, and was greeted by a grown woman in a full Santa suit, ringing the Salvation Army bell, dancing around, and singing, laughing, and yelling Merry Christmas to each shopper as they passed by. You can not pass by this woman without a smile spreading across your face! I laughed out loud and she threw her arm around me and said "Merry Christmas Honey" in my ear. Tears sprung to my eyes...where does this volunteer bell ringer, in the freezing cold, get such joy?!As I pushed my cart thru the produce section, I couldn't stop thinking about her. I'd guess her life isn't all that great, but she's just decided to make the best of it. God Bless her!

The buzz of my "santa" encounter was quickly fading as I manuevered thru the masses of people doing their shopping. Then I saw a little old lady pushing her husband in a wheel chair. I stopped feeling sorry for myself, and wondered how that little woman came up with the strength to push that chair around big ole Wal Mart.

I smiled at her, and as she passed me she asked, "hey do you like my shoes?!" I looked down and she was wearing crocs-those rubber shoes everyone says are so comfortable...one green one and one red one. I laughed again, and told her I loved them. Another human, despite her hardship, passing joy onto a complete stranger. Hmmm

What I did not find at Wal Mart was Chex cereal for the Chex mix I needed to make, what I did find, most unexpectedly, was Christmas Joy, right there in Wal Mart.Yes, the economy is in the toilet, Chicago politics are corrupt, and there is another big snow storm on it's way to the area, but in a week we celebrate the birth of our Savior!

I'm gonna try my best to spread some Christmas joy. I don't plan to dance aound the entrance at Wal Mart, or wear 2 different colored crocs, but I will be thankful, I will smile, I will whistle a merry tune, and I will go out of my way to spread joy. Wanna join me?

By the way I did find Chex cereal at Tysen's for only $1 more per box than Wal Mart, you gotta try the recipe on the back of the chocolate chex cereal box, it's delicious and easy:
Click here for the recipe and more yummy snack recipes: http://www.chex.com/Recipes/RecipeView.aspx?RecipeId=44440&CategoryId=342

P.S. Aldi in Crown Point has milk on sale for $1.99 and wheat bread for $.25. Saving money gives me joy!

Make $25 look like $100!

AE Sweater

Retail Price:$44.50

SP Price:$12.50

Hollister Hoodie

Retail Price: $59.50

SP Price: $15.00

At SP we always save you around 75% off retail prices but this weekend only save an ADDITIONAL 25% on your entire purchase!

Thursday 12/18- Saturday 12/20

We'll be accepting clothing and putting it out all weekend, so don't worry if you can't make it on Thursday, there will still be good stuff for you to snatch up at amazing savings!

Spring Fashion Report from SmartyPants

Well, I've been scouring websites and fashion magazines to give you the fashion forecast for spring...yeah yeah, I know it's freezing out and it's not even technically winter yet, but maybe if we think spring it will warm our spirits a bit!


What I have discovered is this; we are free to wear whatever we like. Skinny jeans and a long top, a pencil skit with a fitted blouse, a fluffy skirt with a tank top...capri pants are still in (thank God!) bermuda shorts, short skirts and boots, if it tickles your fancy and flatters your body, then wear it!


Gone are the days when certain styles are OUT and a very narrow selection of fashions are IN. Don't you love it? I'd like to say that I am so happy to see the return of the dress. Two years ago I couldn't find a dress to save my life, and now the stores are carrying them again! We sell 'em like crazy at SmartyPants!

Nothing says "I'm cool" like a fluffy dress and a pair of Ugg boots.

Speaking of boots, we have a few really cute pairs right now, short and long, they won't be around long at the low prices we've set!

The SmartyPants motto for spring is, if you love it WEAR IT!

What the Evans family is doing for Christmas this year!

I've given up trying to get my family to go Christmas caroling with me....they're just not into it, but those are the kinds of things I associate with Christmas because of my religious upbringing. December meant Christmas programs at Church and school (I attended a private school) band concerts, choir concerts, candlelight services, and my favorite... caroling to the shut ins of our communtity, oh how they smiled as we belted out Joy To the World.

All I remember doing for the month of December is singing about Jesus. I couldn't tell you what any of my gifts were over the years, I have no memory of them, although I know we gathered around the tree and exchanged them, it just wasn't the focus of Christmas.

These days it seems we are too busy to spend much time even celebrating Christmas much less singing Christmas carols to the shut ins! So I run around like a fool, spend a ton of money, buy a bunch of presents for everyone else and then sit there feeling just a tiny bit taken advantage of as every opens their gifts while I sit giftless and watch them.

This year I want something different. So I've been after my family to help me decide what to do in lieu of our traditional-mom-does-everything Christmas season.

Finally this morning, my college daughter had a great idea, Christmas giving secret santa style. Each family member will put some gift ideas on a paper and we will draw names, and then the whole family will go together and buy gifts for the name we picked. Since my kids are kinda poor, I assume I'll be paying for the whole thing, but this sure sounds like a lot more fun than Christmas' of past to me! So we'll do it and I'll let you know how it works out.

I want to share with you guys a few ideas from my friend Kathy who shares my sentiment that Christmas has become too commercial, and kids are getting too spoiled:

1. One year she and her sister decided that instead of buying new gifts for eachother's kids, they would have each kid pick out one of their own toys to give to a cousin. The kids got into it and put some real thought into the gift they chose, remembering what their cousins enjoyed playing with while they were visiting.

2. Another time with her brothers, sisters, and in-laws, they drew names, and the rule was that the gift had to be second hand, no new gifts! This is a great idea, and the whole family was shocked at the useful things that were found at resale and thrift shops; electric knife, cordless drill, a big stainless steel coffee urn and more, and all at huge savings! How fun is that?!

Check out this website for a clickable map of resale shops in your area, and post up if you decide to try out the h"Second Hand Christmas" idea!
http://www.howtoconsign.com/find.htm

However you decide to enjoy the Christmas season I wish you all joy and hapiness!

Christmas Parties Galore!!

It's always a blast this time of year when customers flock to the shop to try on dresses in preperation for their Christmas parties. Dresses that hang without so much as a glance for weeks are suddenly a hot commodity this time of year!

As I write this a woman is trying on her 10th dress. Her comment, "there are more dresses for me to try on in here, than there were in the whole mall!" I believe it! I counted them, 46 dresses in size small.

My new friend in the dressing room is heading to her work Christmas party. She shared with me that she is sick and has been taking chemotherapy which makes her feel like a bus hit her. I am so amazed that she is still working through it all.

Her favorite dress is a big poofy light pink cinderella dress. Her mom is trying to talk her out of it because it's pink and not a winter color, but I'm thinking....wear what you want sister!!

Time for me to go find the perfect crystal necklace set to tuck into her bag as a surprise! I love my job!

Mimosa Yellow!

Apparently the color gods at Pantone have named Mimosa Yellow the color of the year for 2009. How would one go about getting the job of naming color of the year....I must find that out!

I guess as a color in general it's fine, but what about us girls with dishwater blonde hair and pale skin?! I haven't met a yellow yet that looked good on me, and I'm kinda sad that I won't be wearing the color of the year. Can't we just keep the plum and chocolate shades of winter around...everyone looks good in them!

Taken from the Pantone website: "The color yellow exemplifies the warmth and nurturing quality of the sun, properties we as humans are naturally drawn to for reassurance," explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute(R). "Mimosa also speaks to enlightenment, as it is a hue that sparks imagination and innovation."

As for me, I'll stick to drinking Mimosa instead of wearing it.

Check out this recipe for a Mock Mimosa: http://www.kraftfoods.com/kf/recipes/mock-mimosa-62441.aspx

Or make them the way I like 'em 2 parts champagne to 1 part oj, pour over ice in your prettiest wine glass!

Either way, enjoy the color of the year!

recipes for the busy cookie goddess

My Grandfather was a salerno cookie delivery man. With 6 kids in the family, money was a little scarce at times, but my mom recalls that one thing they always had as a treat was.....COOKIES! And the tradition continued in our family growing up. My mom was always baking something and sweets seemed to be the answer to every situation....had a bad day...let's have a cookie to make ourselves feel better.....had a great day....let's have a cookie to celebrate! Okay, not great phsychology there, but let's face it celery is hardly a comfort food!

The cookie torch has been passed on to me, and I have become known for bringing big plates overflowing with delightful Christmas treats to every party and gathering. I used to spend a whole weekend baking and decorating cut out Christmas cookies but now that I'm a working woman, I don't have the luxury of time, so I thought I would share 2 Christmas cookie recipes that get rave reviews but are very simple and super quick to make:

Polar Stars

12 oz white chocolate

3 Tbsp crunchy peanut butter

My directions say to melt in double boiler, but I do them in the microwave, start with just the chocolate, and put in microwave for 1 minute 30 seconds, stir. Return to microwave in 30 second intervals until mixture is completely melted.

In 9x9 inch pan put 1 cup mini marshmallows, 1 cup peanuts, 1 cup rice Krispies

Pour melted ingredients over top and stir.

Let cool, then cut into bars.

I always double the recipe and put it in a 9x13 inch pan.

Chocolate Haystacks

6 oz chocolate chips

6 oz butterschotch chips

1 can chow mein noodles

1 cup cashew pieces

Melt chips in microwave 1 min 30 seconds, stir, continue cooking for 30 second intervals until completely melted. Add remaining ingredients, stir. Drop on wax paper, let cool.

I use recipes like this where you don't spend hours baking a dozen at a time in the oven to preserve my "cookie goddess" status, even with my busy schedule.

ENJOY!!