Um, a, um, working vacation

I feel like I've been gone forever and it's only been a week. Kelly and Nikol are holding down the store beautifully, so I have no reason to hurry back (and our plane tickets aren't good for another week or so). Jason returns home tomorrow and will be back at Ditto Kiddo on Monday.

So, yes, to find something that has anything to do with work on this vacation. We visited PJ's Patch today in Oshkosh. Malissa and I have kept in touch, largely through the Internet, for the last few years and we visit her wonderful store every time we get up to Wisconsin. I've decided, though, that I'm a very foul-weather friend ... we only make it to see her when the weather is bad. Of course, I forgot to take pictures ...

Our little piece of Wisconsin heaven (for a few weeks anyway) ...

1. 21b 015, 2. 21b 014, 3. 21b 013, 4. 21b 012, 5. 21b 011, 6. 21b 010, 7. 21b 009, 8. 21b 007, 9. 21b 008, 10. 21b 006, 11. 21b 005, 12. 21b 004, 13. 21b 003, 14. 21b 002, 15. 21b 001, 16. june15n 011

Wednesday is Here

It's Wednesday ... and that means it Grandparent's Day.

All grandparents save 10% on their total purchase every Wednesday at Ditto Kiddo.

Further Markdowns on Clearance

Now take 50% off the original price of all clearance clothing. Hurry in for best selection.

By the way, did you get your 30% off coupon today? Yes? Great! You're on our mailing list. No? Darn, you'd better sign up today!

Express Yourself with Great Accessories

The latest styles and statements available at Ditto Kiddo now! Hats, hairbands, purses, belts, socks, shoes, and more. Choose from Gap, Gymboree, and others.

We're in the paper ... cause we're so cool

Actually, we're just mentioned at the end of a paragraph, but what the hey ... we'll take it! Check out the article.

The store featured, Trader Tots, is in north Fort Myers/north Cape Coral and is great. She carries teen clothes and maternity, which we don't. Sarah is working on a website, which we'll add to our links when she's ready. C has found lots of teen stuff there, and has even consigned some of her clothes with great success. Definately worth a visit.

This article came out today too ... sputter at the prices and amounts of money mentioned and then come in to Ditto Kiddo and pay significantly less than that for the same great items.

A Quilt for K

I finished this quilt today. One might ask why I'm posting about it here, on the Ditto Kiddo site instead of on the Because I'm Me/personal site. Well, actually, it's posted in both places! It's posted here because a bunch of the fabrics used came from clothing that made it all the way to 75% off and I thought the prints were too cute or the fabrics too high quality to just let go of. Plus, I like the idea of recycling the clothes instead of just buying new fabric (part of the reason I believe in Ditto Kiddo so much). The rest of the fabrics are from my boys, things they stained but I still liked, or things that had gone through 2-3 of them and I just couldn't part with them.





A side note ... we're often asked what happens to the clothes that don't sell on clearance. Most are donated to women's shelters, pregnant teen homes, local churches, and migrant workers. When there has been a need from hurricanes we've donated as much as we can, and always will. It's important to us to give to support our local community first, and we prefer the items to be directly given to someone, rather than sold, and the above groups are the ones we've found to be the best fit for us. The rest of the clothes are set aside for an upcoming season, if we are confident they didn't sell just because they were out at the wrong time of year. And, as you can see from the quilt, some end up in sewing projects.

Because I'm Me Onesies

These adorable items are made from recycled, gently-used onesies, with the appliques and accessories either machine or hand sewn on.

These will be for sale at Ditto Kiddo and will arrive at the store early next week.

FYI: RC2 Corp. Recalls Various Thomas & Friends™ Wooden Railway Toys Due to Lead Poisoning Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Products: Various Thomas & Friends™ Wooden Railway Toys

Units: About 1.5 million
Importer/Distributor: RC2 Corp., of Oak Brook, Ill.

Hazard: Surface paints on the recalled products contain lead ... more

(click here for article)

It's Wednesday

It's Wednesday and that means it's Grandparent's Day at Ditto Kiddo. Every Wednesday grandparent's save 10% on their total purchase.

Just a reminder ... our summer hours are Monday-Saturday 10:00-4:00, additional hours available by appointment.

Baby, You Can Drive My Car

Look at all the cars and ride-on toys we've got! Perfect for outdoor summer fun.



It's very rare (translation: never) that we get this many of these great toys in and they aren't lasting long. Hurry in and ride out with a new set of wheels.

Eddie Bauer Wooden Swing and Bassinet

Eddie Bauer Classic Wooden Swing

• Stylish wood frame; self-starting quiet motor lasts up to 100 hours; open top frame and pivoting snack tray for easy access
• Adjustable and removable headrest supports Baby; seat lock and 3-point safety harness keeps Baby secure
• Plays 5 soothing songs and sounds; 5 swing speeds; 3-position recline for nap or play
• Frame made of poplar wood with plastic components; seat pad and head rest is 100% polyester; pad is removable and washable
• Simple to fold for easy portability and storage; uses 4 D batteries (not included) assembly required; for ages birth–6 mos., up to 25 lbs. 34Lx25Wx42H"

MSRP: $129.00 Our Price: $69.90




Eddie Bauer Musical Rocking Bassinet

• Hardwood Bassinet with Natural Finish
• Converts to a Rocking Cradle
• Features Convenient Underneath Storage Shelf
• Retractable Canopy for Varying Degrees of Shade
• Plays 5 Songs, Volume Control, Automatic Shutoff After 15 Minutes
• Includes Liner, Skirt, Cradle Cover, Mattress Pad Sheet

MSRP: $129.00 Our Price: $89.90

Sale

Lots of new markdowns taken on clothing at Ditto Kiddo. Shop now for best selection.

Recent Recalls

Recent recall information courtesy of the Consumer Products Safety Commission. This is just a short list of recalls, there are more at the CPSC site. Visit that site often and subscribe to the e-mail recall notifications.

Simplicity Recalls Cribs Due to Fall, Entrapment and Choking Hazards

Children’s Metal Jewelry Sold at Limited Too and Justice Stores Recalled by Tween Brands Due to Lead Poisoning Hazard

Fisher-Price Rainforest Infant Swings Recalled Due to Entrapment Hazard

Samara Brothers Recalls Boys’ Three-Piece Short Set Due to Choking Hazard

Small World Toys Recalls Children’s Take-Apart Townhouse Toys; Detached Magnets Pose Aspiration and Intestinal Hazards

Battat Inc. Recalls Parents® Magazine Toy Cell Phones for Choking Hazard

Graco Children’s Products Recalls to Replace Soft Blocks Towers on Activity Centers Due to Choking Hazard

Julia Roberts ... a savvy consignment shopper

(this article originally found blogged about at Auntie Kate, the resale guru)

Dwell Baby Crib Bedding Set

From the Dwell website: Following on the success of dwell’s adult collections, dwellbaby was launched as a separate brand in 2002. Since its beginning as a select collection of crib bedding, the line has grown to include crib accessories, stuffed animals, bibs, towels, and stroller accessories — and remains the distinctive, modern voice in today’s baby market. We think products for babies should be well designed, aesthetically pleasing, and able to work seamlessly within the parent’s home. We think all babies should be dwell babies….let them begin in style.

click on the picture to view a similar set in chocolate brown


Just in to Ditto Kiddo: this wonderful Dwell 3 piece set, with polka-dot/striped bumper, striped crib skirt, and geometric patterned sheet. Very modern, very stylish. The color is called Blossom, kind of a lemon-lime-pepperoncini color (yeah, I'm sure you can picture it now) with white contrasts.

MSRP: $189.99 Our price: $59.90


The crib shown is also available at Ditto Kiddo for $89.90

Radio Flyers

Radio Flyer Scoot-About
for ages 1-3


•Wide front wheels for stability and safety
•“Furniture friendly” front bumper
•Real working steering
•Easy glide wheels
•Adjustable seat height with easy turn knob
•Streamers
•Ringing bell

MSRP $34.99 Our Price $19.90 SOLD

Radio Flyer Classic Red Car
for ages 1 1/2 and up

Foot-to-floor car
Real wood sides
Push bar for use of walker
Wheels turn 360 degrees
Honking horn
Wide wheel base for stability & safety

MSRP $89.99-$136.00 Our Price $39.90

Hurry! These just arrived and won't last long.

Updated Website

It seemed apt to update the website while working on the blogs. No major changes, but lots of fresh new pictures on the home page, Because I'm Me page, and What We've Got pages.

Welcome

Welcome to the new home of the Ditto Kiddo weblog. I apologize for the recent changes and issues, I believe this will be the last "issue" for quite a while ... I don't think my brain could handle much more!

Divide ... and Conquer???

As I mentioned earlier, I've been trying to set up a seperate blog for my personal stuff and Because I'm Me stuff ... to allow this blog to just be for Ditto Kiddo. Introducing Because I'm Me or http://jdy2.blogspot.com/.

Please visit both sites ... there will be times when the information on the two is almost identical, but more times when it isn't.

Thanks!

Jody

New From Because I'm Me

These great bags are just for princesses ... fairy angels, shopping, and flowers ... what more is there to life?

The bags are pink with bright pink rick-rack and white flowers. The lining is pink floral cotton. The bags sell for $14.99 each and we have three of them available at the store or in our online shop.

The Weekend Weather

When I lived in Albuquerque it was common to hear people say "If you don't like the weather, wait an hour". It sure felt like that here today with the tropical depression moving through.

The seawalls around the store and down towards the beach were overflowing a bit late this afternoon, which we don't see very often. I had some customers ask if I'd noticed the water levels, I hadn't but I'd been outside around 1:00 trying to figure out what was wrong with the phone lines and the water wasn't very high ... but by 4:00 it sure was. To give a little perspective on the photos below ... normally the water is 3-4 feet below the seawall tops, depending on the tides.

The waves at the beach were much more like a semi-calm day on the ocean than typical Bonita Beach. Also, our typically deep sandy beach wasn't ... most of it was under the water (we were standing at the end of the little bridge to the beach when we took the two pictures). Very cool to see. M and I took these pictures for the boys ... they're going to be surprised!

Oh, the phone line at the store is messed up from the rain. It should be fixed by Monday afternoon, but if you call, or called today, and get a lot of static don't be surprised.

Summary of Last Few Posts

p align="center">Here are the last few posts in Cliff Notes form...

First, we have a contest winner. She's been notified. Congratulations!

Second, look at all the new stuff we got in in the last week. Amazing.

Last, all the displays were redone ... lots of fun summer stuff. I can't believe it's June already (especially as cool as it was today).

Working on It

Wah! This isn't so fun. :)

Curious to see what happens if I add a picture ... just ignore my goings on right now ... hopefully I'll have a site again before too long.

----------

Adding a picture didn't seem to screw things up. I can't figure out how to change the font at the top of the page or turn the photo address way up top into a header photo, which is what it's supposed to be. Really, I just wish I could figure out how to get my blog back to the way it was a few hours ago.

I had decided to divide the blog into two blogs ... a personal one and a store one. I set up the second blog but then couldn't access it for some reason, so I decided to deactivate it. Unfortunately, I deactivated the wrong one. I called Yahoo support and they weren't sure what to do, but said to call WordPress, but there isn't anyone to call at Wordpress and I couldn't figure out an answer on their site because it was all in computerese, which I stink at. So if anyone can figure help figure out what to do about the header I'd appreciate it! (or if I could get my old stuff back that'd be even better ... it's here somewhere I just can't get it to show up HERE.

Jody

All Gone

I accidently deleted the blog ... all my fault. So now it's so naked. I"ll be working over the weekend to restore it to it's previous state, which may or may not work. Sigh ...

Jody ... pining for the days when "support" meant actually being able to talk to someone helpful instead of just the computer