July 13th, 2006 - Buying stuff
Yesterday, we spent over $100 downtown buying stuff. But it was good stuff!
First, the consignment shop had a 50% off sale, including the fabulous Melissa and Doug wooden toys. I resisted strongly, and bought just one puzzle, plus one M&D consignment puzzle (looked brand new). I did not buy the cutable vegetables set that just fascinates me. We also bought another wooden puzzle of the US, but it won’t be usable till she’s at least 5 so will be packed away. 
Then, we saw a wooden rocker for just $10–$5 on sale. As you can see from the picture, we bought it! It’s older, well-made, and solid. Should last through many kids! Although far past dinner time and while I was fixing food in the kitchen (which usually leads to her whining to be fed), Maggie beelined to the chair when we got home. She sat down and picked up a book immediately. I think it will become her reading chair.
I’m reaffirming my committment to get rid of more toys at home; Eric also suggested packing up the good ones for later use. (For instance, I find it hard to give away things grandparents and uncles give her. Boxing them up will be fairly easy to do and means we’ll have them for the next kids in 4 years*.)
Then we went to the bike shop for helmets for the family. Eric found a 15% coupon in the paper earlier this week. We purposefully wanted to go to the local shop, instead of the chain where we bought the bikes. At the time, I didn’t know W&S was a chain or we would have gone downtown instead. But then, I wouldn’t have found the bike I now adore. Anyway, we found an awful pink bunnies helmet for Maggie. I saw awful because, really?, pink bunnies??? But it was the best design there. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the Trek helmet (Trek’s a WI company, along with being Lance’s supporter for so long). The Trek helmet has a Velcro adjuster while the Giro we bought has a clicky-turny thing which is VERY easy to use. Hoewver, Eric and I got Trek helmets. And they were on sale. AND they still gave us the 15% discount on top of it. Helmets are very expensive–even with the discounts, it was over $80. To our amazement, Maggie left the helmet on for at least 5 minutes in the store. She didn’t fuss once over being fitted, either.
(*I think I’ve mentioned it before, but I know I have some new readers. We intended to become a foster family when Maggie’s goes off to school in 4 more years.)