Tips and Tricks - Parenting Healthy

7 Secrets To Finding An Epic Costume at Goodwill Stores

My local Goodwill region (Goodwill of the Olympics and Rainier Region) has 2 gals they call, Costume Experts. Having Whitney and Morena locally means we get great tips, talent displays and DIY ideas. Creating a costume that is unique makes Halloween so fun (or you can be a Baby Shark Mom with like else).

Whitney and Morena have put together some tips to finding a Costume that will stand out and I wanted to share a few of them with you below.

Use Your Smart Phone. Technology today allows us to merge what we scan on our phones to what we see in stores. Searching ideas on your phone and using images to know what items you need makes the outfit complete. Want to be ‘Grandpa”, search some photos and head to the men’s section of Goodwill.

Plan ahead. When you start now you can visit several stores in your area to piece the perfect items together. Having an 80’s family costume this year? You’ll find everything you need if you check all local stores and keep going back because new stuff is on the racks daily.

Have a budget. Most stores offer new and used costumes and costume ideas. If you are looking for a trending, new costume see if Goodwill has it for a lot less than most retailers. Is the budget thin? Shop used costumes and save even more.

Know your Halloween night plans. What will you be doing with your costume? Will you be outside in the cold, trick-or-treating with kids? Will you be at a kids party or adult party? Know your scene and then you can choose a costume with kid-friendly in mind or even weather in mind.

What are you favorite movies, TV shows? How do your favorite actors/actresses or characters dress? My son is a huge Stranger Things fan and he likes Steve’s character so he decided on Scoops Ahoy Steve for Halloween this year. You can find a lot of inspiration within your favorite media.

Leave the Halloween section. If you are visiting Goodwill stores for your costume hunt, leave the Halloween section to find the right pieces for tops, bottoms, hats, socks, etc. elsewhere in the store.

Find a Goodwill helper. Most stores have DIY experts that can help you find costume necessities and even help find a style or idea you’ll love. There are ‘Whitney’s and Morena’s’ at Goodwill stores nationwide so check your stores experts.

Don’t forget to think about year-round needs while there. My son is in the middle of October Awareness week at school. When I was Back to School shopping I kept colors in mind so we are good to go this week for Orange Day for Anti-Bullying and Pink/Black Day for Breast Cancer Awareness. It’s always a good idea to grab those bright color items in your kids sizes for school events when visiting Goodwill stores especially if they are the day’s colored tag sales.

Goodwill thrift store sales fund free education in a variety of career fields such as culinary, barista, construction, advanced manufacturing, warehouse, computers and more. Shop to help your local community and continue the cycle by donating your past Halloween attire along with other household items!

2019 Holidays, Home, Tips and Tricks

DIY Bar Table with Giani Butcher Block Countertop Paint Kit

October 2, 2019October 2, 2019 Erin Sluka

When we bought our home 2 years ago I had so many ideas to do with the place. We bought new build and so we sold and donated a lot of furniture and items so we can move into the new home with new stuff. A few rooms were done right away and some spaces I am just now finishing because I could not make my mind up of what I wanted to do. This weekend I finished all I need to be as ‘entertaining ready‘ as I want to be.

By being ready to fully entertain I mean that I have the products and space needed. I looked long and hard and saved Amazon credit and bought the perfect bar cart. It’s in my dining room corner and holds everything nicely.

Then I had family over and realized while it holds all my bar cart items it leaves no table space to make your drink so everyone would take what they need and walk over to the counter and it suddenly was not serving its purpose. I loved my cart and spent quite a bit for it, but then I was sent the Giani Butcher Block Countertop Paint Kit and the wheels in my head started turning on how to gain more surface area in that corner of my dinning room.

I looked in yard sales and buy nothing pages for some table space that would match the bar cart I bought and I just had no luck. Then one day I ran into Goodwill to browse Halloween items and I saw a TV Tray leaning on the wall and it was marked $2. This could work! Now I can fold it up and store it which means matching is not an issue because I will only have it out when needed. But, it was ugly! So I went to work with my Giani paint kit.

I don’t usually tackle DIY but I really wanted this to work out so I gave it a try. I already had the paint kit which is enough to cover a lot more than this tray so I’d be out $2 if I fail. I sanded it down and applied the Primer which are the first steps.

Once the primer dried I did it again. Two coats of primer and it was time to tape my block lines. The best part about the kit is that it comes with everything you need. The only thing I used of my own supplies was my drop cloth and a larger paint pan.

Using the paint to create the grain and contrast was so easy. I found their YouTube video instructions and it was so easy to follow along! This might just work out.

Once the paint dried, I applied the sealer and that completed the project. The worst part was waiting for each step’s drying time because I was so anxious to complete it and see it done.

When you look at the finished results compared to that expensive cart I bought I get the same table surface area. This means I can dress my bar cart up and when guests come over, I can set up my Butcher Block stand and set it up so there is a surface to fix the cocktail.

Even if butcher block is not your style, Giani paint kits come in so many finishes from granite, shiplap (which is on my wish list), chalk paint, backsplash and more.

Get your home and spaces ready for the Holidays with these easy-to-use, all inclusive kits. You can do many surfaces or one large surface with just one kit (covers up to 35 sq. feet). Visit Giani Granite to get started. Also available on Amazon.

Comment: I was sent product for this authentic feature. All opinions are my own

Education, Kids, Reviews, School, STEM Learning, Tips and Tricks

Learn How To Make Your Own Animation Videos – Online Course

September 9, 2019September 12, 2019 Erin Sluka

This summer I sat our youngest down as we do all our boys through the years and made a summer learning plan. On one hand I do not want to destroy their summer break, yet I know that the summer slide is real and it can take several weeks to get back into learning mode when it has disappeared so many months. In all of my research and own trials, just 20 minutes a day is enough. So, I try to find fun ways to incorporate some learning.

Anthony had asked for some animation tablet accessories for his birthday last spring and has been wanting to learn to use it. We discovered Outschool that has so many online courses for kids from subjects to how-to’s like how to make your own animation videos, how to code, etc. and STEM-inspired. They even have different ‘video game’ related learning. He found a course and we signed up: How To Make Awesome Animated Movies.

Here is a very brief overview of Anthony’s course below:

Anthony logged on every Thursday from 3-3:50 for 4 weeks. Each week they were given a lesson and then for the week had a (fun) assignment to share next class.

Once you register for a course at Outschool or even join their email list you get notified every time new classes start or are added. There are so many! And some classes are just a couple of dollars. You see who teaches the classes and can click on their profiles, options for class times and all you will need before day one such as programs to download or equipment you’ll need, etc. By the time the class starts everyone should be ready to roll so it is seamless.

Being as how my son took a class that mainly consisted of his age group (you can sort classes by age group so younger kids don’t end up in teens classes and vice versa) some kids were setting up solo and needed extra help, but the Teacher was good about allowing a few moments to walk these kids through it and move on for the rest of the class. You always have access to direct message your Teacher too if you have questions you need to ask without the entire class. It was a fun experience and a great way to add some extra learning at home.

Head over to the online courses at Outschool today and find something fun to learn about!

Comment: Samples were sent for feature. Opinions are my own

College Bound, Fashion, Giveaways, Kids, Money Saver, Reviews by Anthony, School, Tips and Tricks

5 Reasons You Should Thrift Shop for Back to School #Giveaway (Wa. State)

August 14, 2019May 15, 2020 Erin Sluka

I graduated high school in 1995 and I remember the stigma around ‘Goodwill clothes’ as a teen. Back then it was not considered cool to thrift shop. You were singled out as ‘poor’ or teased for wearing worn clothing. You felt that not only was name brand what you needed, but it was also where you bought it. Had I known back then the tips to thrift shopping, no one would have ever known where I bought the name brands I was wearing. Today is different!

Today, thrift shopping is trendy. That is because the styles are lose, colorful and a step back to the ‘Stranger Things 80’s’. Recently, Anthony and I attended a media fashion event at our local Goodwill store. This invent included teen models and aspiring fashion students who were able to talk to Mom’s about the in’s and out’s of todays fashion and how Goodwill offers the choices needed to put together your child’s style. From ripped jeans to Converse, we saw it all there.

So, how do you thrift shop? We were not caught dead in a thrift store 25 years ago and now our kids style tells us to shop here. It can be overwhelming to step inside a thrift store to racks and racks of clothes. Where do you start? Anthony and his school friend paired up with a College student for the shopping experience at our local Goodwill. Here is what he (and I) learned.

You will find what you are looking for! Because donations come in daily, the clothing arrives on the racks daily. If you become a frequent Goodwill shopper you will find yourself coming back more than once a week at times because you realize how quickly new stuff arrives on the rack. If you have a list of wants and needs for your kids, you can get it all and keep checking back to fulfill their lists.

You save more than you think you would! We all know that thrift stores prices are low due to the clothing being pre-owned and sometimes never even pre-worn. We found a lot of items with new tags still attached on the racks. On top of the everyday thrift prices, they have tag sales. When we were there Goodwill had 2 different tag sales – a yellow .99Cent and a red 50% off. On top of lower thrift prices and tag sales, most Goodwill regions offer discount calendar days like Student Sundays, Senior Tuesdays, Military Wednesday and Fan Fridays for additional savings on most items. It doesn’t stop there! Our local (South West Washington) Goodwill stores have a Denim BOGO (buy one, get one) coupon runs Aug 19 – Sept 1 (and) a BOGO mug for college students that expires Aug 17 (Coupon).

Thrift shopping relieves daily pressures! If you have older kids you may realize that as they move through high school and into College their style changes. It almost relaxes. They hit years of harder homework, tighter deadlines and now jobs and having to spend their own money so suddenly cheap and comfy is in. It is in because it is easy. They stayed up all night getting that assignment done and nothing feels better than a favorite pair of sweats and hoodie in the morning to head out the door. Goodwill is a place to offer these options for your older teen. Comfy, big and worry-free from high prices.

Thrift shopping teaches a budgeting lesson! What is that lesson? There are options with your money. At age 15, all parents are ‘loaded’ and wanting the big brands at large department stores is no skin off their back because they have no clue. If you walk into a thrift store and hand them an envelope and challenge them to check everything off their list and stay within that budget it is fun to see what they can put together. If they really want ‘name brand’ head to the mall after the thrift store and hand them the same envelope (as a tool) and challenge them to spend the same $50 or $100 there). These are teens, they don’t get it until they see it actually drawn or played out. Reminding them they are getting 2 items at that department store versus 10 is the difference that opens their eyes. It did for Anthony.

The last reason for thrift shopping is that your clothes are already worn in! No multiple washing or the discomfort of new and stiff. Whether you find a great pair of jeans or new jacket, it has the break in already and nothing feels better than a great, relaxed pair of jeans ready to bring you comfort all day right from the start.

These local teens made thrift shopping fun and cool! One of these gals has even been noticed by the European fashion community for her tips and topics as she makes finding trends in Goodwill enticing. You now see celebrities and Instagramers thrifting and it is now OK to be seen in Goodwill, so take advantage of that. You’re wallet will thank you. Make sure you sign up for the deals and offer announcements.

One more way to save that I forgot to mention is to donate! Bring those old items in and grab your 30% off 1 item so that when you find that piece you like and it is not currently on sale you have a coupon.

Looking through displays like our Goodwill store has of outfits and styles is great inspiration like the ones in the above collage that our student models picked out around the store. They found styles from the Skater, to the Stranger Things 80’s, casual and the soft female. Don’t forget the backpack, dorm supplies and school supplies while there. They have it all and Goodwill has a Back to School DIY page for inspiration.

Giveaway

1 lucky Western Washington reader will win a $50 Goodwill Gift Card. (see this store locator to see if your area qualifies, note Seattle and North does not qualify). Giveaway ends on 8/27. Enter below and good luck!