Have you heard of the huge consignment sales that are becoming oh-so-popular with moms?
I've posted about them before, but I'm writing about them again because I think they're so wonderful.
Here’s the idea behind this mega sale: Consignors bring their new and gently-used children's and maternity merchandise to sell. Shoppers can then browse and purchase these items at great savings, usually far below retail prices. Cash, credit and check accepted.
All of the clothing is hung on racks and easy to look through. The other stuff, such as cribs, basinnets, cradles, strollers, exersaucers, swings, toys, books, diaper bags, cloth diapers, slings, and backpacks, are organized well.
Since I have no trouble finding stuff I just have to have for my daughter, I try to go on the last day of the Just Between Friends sales when stuff if 1/2 off. If I was a new mom, I'd opt for going the first day though to be sure to get those big ticket items.
If you want to sell, you will make between 60-70% of the sale price. My cousin-in-law thinks that selling at these consignment sales is the way to go. "I only spend a couple hours gathering, entering online, and printing labels to attach to the items. When I did my garage sales a couple years ago, I spent more than 5 full days doing similar things," she told me. You also don't have to sit there for a day or two or three while you try to sell your merchandise. However, you can opt to volunteer at the sale and then you'll earn more $.
• Elk River: Coming up this weekend, April 28-30 at the Elk River Ice Arena
• Blaine/Andover: May 5-7 at the Andover Community Center
• Eden Prairie: May 12-14 at the Eden Prairie Community Center
• Woodbury: May 12-14 at the Bielenberg Sports Center, 4125 Radio Drive, Woodbury
• Edina: June 2-4 at the Hopkins Pavillon
• St. Cloud: June 9-11 at the St. Cloud Civic Center
Another sale like this one is the Munchkin Market. Again, sales are held twice a year in the spring and in the fall. The sales are in Stillwater at the Washington County Fairgrounds, Anoka County Fairgrounds and also at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Cash or local checks. My cousin prefers to consign at the St. Paul one over the Anoka sale because there are more folks who show up to buy.
Sale organizers have to pay for a listing, so it’s not complete, but well worth checking out. Sales are organized by area (North-West Metro, North-East Metro, South of the River, West Metro).
There may not be many, but there are women leaders in the Bible. Miriam is one of them.
As Moses’ sister, one of the defining moments of her young life was watching out for her brother as he floated in the Nile. Her quick thinking when Pharoah’s daughter discovered him meant that her mother was able to not only nurse, but also train Moses up as a Hebrew in his formative years. These lessons stuck with Moses through his entire life and helped shape him as a person.
Miriam was a worship leader for her people. When they safely crossed the Red Sea, Miriam led all the women in worship. As the authors of “Women in the Bible” point out, one could mistakenly conclude from that passage (Exodus 15:20) that Miriam was only a leader of women. “The text portrays women leading the community in worship, and Miriam was the worship leader,” writes husband and wife duo Larry and Sue Richards on page 71. She is an example of a prophetess, a woman, whom God spoke through to speak to the entire community of men and women.
She wasn’t without fault, however.
All the characters in the Bible provide an example of what or what not to do, and Miriam is no different. While she was a fantastic example of a female leader, she was also consumed by jealously at one point in her life. While she was A leader, she wasn’t THE leader of the Hebrews. No, that role belonged to her brother, Moses. Miriam began to undermine Moses, creating an issue out of the race of his wife, an Ethiopian who likely had very dark skin. She appealed to people’s prejudice, and fostered jealousy in her other brother, Aaron, another Hebrew leader. Together they fashioned a Golden Calf for the Israelites. Do you hear the jealousy in these words from Numbers 12:3 when she talks to Aaron: “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?”
God stepped in to put a stop to this. He made his will clear, the Richards point out (page 72). “God had chosen Moses as the leader. Miriam and Aaron had important ministries of their own, but they were not the ones God had chosen to fulfill the tasks assigned to Moses.” Miriam had her own job to do, her own role to fill despite her temporary lapse in judgement, and it was important. She wasn’t regulated to second best because of her sex, but because she was destined for one thing while Moses and Aaron were for another.
This is part of a series that examines women in the Bible to break the negative stereotypes associated with females. Click here to read the first post.
Car rides with my 2-year-old are only manageable with the help of Go Fish, the acapella group that switched over to doing kids music in 2003. Before I added Go Fish to the car, the 1-hour rides to Cambridge once a week for my job were a nightmare.
The Go Fish guys have saved me from a screaming 2-year-old.
I packed her snacks. They ended up strewn all over the floor and crushed into her car seat.
I packed her toys. I discovered the dolls on the opposite side of the backseat.
I made sure she had three nuks. She could never find them. So we had to stop so that I could point out they were stuffed between her leg and the car seat side, easily within her reach.
I tried the radio. I tried ignoring her. I tried talking to her.
The only thing that would stop the shrill screams and rolling tears was if I sang every song I knew. And the only song I could remember in those situations was “Itsy, Bitsy Spider.” Yeah. It’s her favorite. But really how many times can you sing that 25-second song before you want to rip your own vocal chords out? I typically could make it just a few miles and then my attention span went kaput.
Finally I thought to bring along the mixed CD my friend had given me months prior, the one I had shoved aside thinking my baby was waaaay too young for.
Turns out she’s not. She’s already a music lover. A very opinionated music lover. The only music she’ll listen to is Go Fish. No Big ‘N Rich. No SHeDAISY. No, not even Led Zeppelin will satisfy her. Go Fish or nothing.
I’ve tried other kids music, such as the Philadelphia Chickens, Suzi Shelton and Mothersong Santa Cruz. For awhile she was okay with the Beach Boys. But now I get a very insistent “Uh, Uh, Uh!”
So, we listen to a lot of Go Fish. Thank goodness I’ve always been a fan. I remember the guys from my college days. Earlier albums included “Infectious” and “Parade” along with two great Christmas ones (“More than a Story” and “Snow”). They rocked the Excel once while I was in the audience with that great drum solo Jamie does to “The Little Drummer Boy.” Gosh, that was cool! I volunteered at numerous shows in Cambridge at the Hardy Center over the years too, getting to chat it up with Jamie Statema, Jason Folkmann and Andy Selness backstage before I introduced them. I have to confess that I was never too thrilled when they started singing the kids music during the concerts. I was in my 20s and didn’t have kids. I didn’t get it.
Now I do.
When you’re listening to the same music over and over and OVER with your kids, you really will go crazy if it isn’t good music. Go Fish prides itself on music that won’t drive parents bonkers. They succeed.
They’ve got six kids albums:
• Splash (2003) — Find out why Ladybugs should wear sunscreen, learn what would happen if kids ran the church, and hear all about a funky fish named Frankie! Among the selections are This Little Light of Mine and The B-I-B-L-E.
• Superstar (2004) - The Ten Commandment Boogie, Superstar, Lord I Lift Your Name on High, and Jesus Loves Me…need they say more?
• Snooze (2005) - Songs that are great for settling kids down. You’re My Little Girl, Catch a Falling Star, and Welcome to the World.
• Snazzy (2007) - Learn all the books of the Bible in three minutes, get funky while putting on your jammies, and get ready to start a mosh pit with David and Goliath. Includes the hits American Kid and Love Like This.
• Party Like A Preschooler (2008) - With Itsy, Bitsy Spider, this is my 2-year-old daughter’s favorite album. Selections include Do Your Ears Hang Low, 5 Little Monkeys, and Pop Goes the Weasel.
• Kickin’ It Old School (2010) - I didn’t know until today about this album, but I just ordered it. According to their web site, this is the album that proves your grandparents’ music is cooler than you think. Featuring songs like Blessed Assurance, Old Rugged Cross, and This Is My Father’s World.
• Groovy (2011) - The guys started recording this album with Denver & the Mile High Orchestra last month. I can’t wait until there’s another album. The guys could come out with another every few months and I wouldn’t complain.
Go Fish also has a couple DVDs and VBS curriculum. If you’ve get a chance to bring the kids to one of their shows, I recommend you go. Expect a great light show, kids bouncing in their seats and lots of energy. It’s a blast.
The corner of 28th Avenue and 42nd Street South in Minneapolis is a wonderful spot. There’s a fantastic coffee shop, bakery, pub and soon-to-be ice cream shop.
Buster's on 28th and 42nd is a great neighborhood bar. If you've got room after hanging out there, grab a pastry to take home from The Baker's Wife or a mocha from The Angry Catfish Bike & Coffee Shop. (Photo courtesy of busterson28th.com)
If you’re hungry, get filled up at Buster’s on 28th. Buster’s demonstrates that you can find more than same-old broasted chicken, Michelob Golden Light and chairs from the 70s at a pub. In fact, the menu is so varied that I can bring my vegetarian mother and she’ll feast on something delicious. And I don’t have to worry about stuffing my toddler’s belly full of grease. That doesn’t happen at most neighborhood bar and grills.
The award-winning menu is limited to burgers, sandwiches, soups, salads and pizza — with breakfast served during weekend brunch. All the bread served at Buster’s on 28th is baked by the amazing bakery next door — I’m sure you’ve heard of it: The Baker’s Wife.
For burgers, choose from regular beef, bison or lamb (served with a tomato couli coulis frisee and black truffle oil). Extras include Widmer Cheddar, Emmenthaler Swiss, Chipotle Cream Cheese, Fried Onions, Seasonal Mushrooms, Thick Cut Bacon, Blue Cheese Crumbles, Havarti Cheese, Spinach, and Pickled Beets. Can I say “YUM”?
Vegetarians can dine on the Portabella Sandwich with sauteed spinach, balsamic red onions and basil aioli, or the Red Pepper Hummus served with pickled beets and micro greens on sourdough.
If you love meat, there’s plenty for you: barbecue pork that’s been braised for six hours, beef that’s been braised in Murphey’s Stout for six hours or a steak sandwich with caramelized onions and bacon with a blue cheese sauce. Is your stomach rumbling yet?
They also have Rueben Paninis, Turkey Paninis, Elian Gonzalez, Grilled Chicken, Walleye Rachel and Adult Grilled Cheese. Sandwiches range from $9 to $13.
There is an array of mouth-watering appetizers I’ll let you discover on your own.
You could spend a year at Buster's and drink a different beer every time you visited. (Photo courtesy of busterson28th.com)
The beer list at Buster’s on 28th goes on and on. There are ales, smoked beer, dark ales, pilseners, winter ales, ciders, malt lagers, fruit beer, and others they just list under “Out of Category.” This month’s featured beer is Everyday Brooklyn; the brewery release party was April 12.
I love the decor inside the bar. The ceiling (and ladies room) gives a place away, and tells a diner if the place is well-looked after or not. The ceiling inside Buster’s is gorgeous: solid beams intersect rich, wooden panels. And the bathroom was clean! Tall backs on the booths ensure private conversations, although you can all join in cheering on a sports team, if that’s your thing. My toddler was just tall enough to play peek-a-boo with the folks in the booth next to ours. The “kitchen” is on one side of the bar, giving diners an up-close look at food prep, one that doesn’t make you flee out the door as fast as you can go. Instead, it’s reassuring.
This ain't no greasy bar and grill where you're afraid to visit the ladies room. I can feel comfortable about bringing both my vegetarian mother and my toddler. (Photo courtesy of busterson28th.com)
Who came up with such a great neighborhood bar? Well, according to the web site, it was three men. “We’re just three guys that like good beer and good food. We were looking for the kind of bar that had interesting tasty food, a comfortable atmosphere and a ridiculously large selection of beers from all over the world. We decided to build it our selves. Now that we’ve built our favorite place to hang out, why don’t you come on down and grab a pint for yourself.”
The Angry Catfish Bike and Coffee Bar at 42nd and 28th South prides itself on a variety of unusual methods of brewing coffee.
How’s this for a drink description?
“Latte – Excellent espresso and beautiful creamy milk”
Makes you want one right now, doesn’t it?
A latte isn’t the only thing I’d recommend at theAngry Catfish at the corner of 28th Avenue South and 42nd Street in Minneapolis. The baristas make a mean iced mocha, one that will definitely leave you craving another one.
A glass wall separates the "coffee bar" from the bicycle shop.
My tip of the season: Order the Sea Salt Mocha. I guarantee you haven’t had another drink like it. I love the sea salt and dark chocolate combination you can find in high end chocolates, and this beverage replicates those complimentary flavors perfectly. Yum.
The coffees and teas served at the Angry Catfish are from Intelligentsia, a company that is helping revolutionize the coffee industry. While Starbucks sells beans by country, Intelligentsia buys beans from tiny individual farms, allowing coffee drinkers to get coffee from a single supplier the way others buy wine from a specific vineyard. In their words: “In the broadest terms, these coffees should be understood as a true collaboration, with both sides investing a great deal of time, energy and ideas to produce something great. At the end of this process, the coffee farmer who grows an award-winning cup is an artisan, and should be regarded as such. We believe human effort is the most critical factor in quality coffee and that the growers who do the best work should get the best price and individual recognition.”
This movement has turned from high-test espresso machines to old-school brewing methods. It may take a bit longer for a cup, but the richer flavors are worth the wait. (Learn more about Coffee’s Next Wave.)
This coffee shop/bicycle shop prides itself on offering coffee brewed in a variety of ways, such as pour-overs, siphons and chemex. As the web site explains:
- Chemex – One of the most sparkling, refreshing brew methods
Chemex – One of the most sparkling, refreshing brew methods
- French Press – The old standard of alt-brew methods, full bodied and flavorful
If you’d like a treat, choose from an array provided by the Baker’s Wife, the well-known bakery a few doors down. Some consider their pastries and bread among the best in Minneapolis. Personally, I hate pastries because they are always so sugary, but I couldn’t stop myself from eating the raspberry pastry I picked up on a whim. But I digress... Back to the Angry Catfish.
Pull up a chair.
Lounge next to the fireplace or stake out a seat outside on the sidewalk, depending on the weather. You can’t go wrong. The shop was transformed from an old Ace Hardware into a place with a funky vibe in 2009. The deteriorating ceilings and flooring were replaced with wood, copper, corrugated metal and furnishings made from re-purposed bicycles. I loved the black and white photographs of bicycles dotting the walls, as well as the metal bike rack outside.
You can also opt to watch bicycles being repaired or browse through the variety of bikes for sale. Bring your own in for a tune-up; pay $75 for all adjustments, wheels trued, torque check, frame and rims cleaning. The place is a full-service shop and promises “on providing the highest quality work to ensure your bicycle leaves our hands in the best possible condition.”
Bike rack or climbing apparatus? Depends on your age.
While you’re there, pick up the array of bicycle-related pamphlets piled up near the window. I know the Minnesota Biking Guide 2011, Minneapolis Trails Map and Twin Cities Regional Trails Map are really going to come in handy. Interested in the 2011 Active Living Bike Expo? It will be Friday, April 29 from 3 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, April 30 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Education Building at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Find out more at HaveFunBiking.com. Get in free with a food shelf donation.
The Angry Catfish Bike & Coffee Bar
4208 28th Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55406
(612) 722-1538
www.angrycatfishbicycle.com
info@angrycatfishbicycle.com
Hours (bicycle shop and cafe): Mon-Fri 7am-7pm / Sat-Sun 8am-5pm
Put a little summer into your weekend with a glass of FlipFlop wine (flipflopwines.com).
This is a wine company that doesn’t take itself too seriously. With bottles of wine priced at $7.99, they succeed in offering wine that regular folks can buy.
Just as flipflops are instantly likable and easy-going, so are these wines.
I cracked open a bottle of Pinot Noir recently. While I typically like Pinot Noir, I don’t count on loving each type I try. I feel that way about reds in general. Many are too dry for my taste. This FlipFlop Pinot Noir was perfect. Not too sweet, not too dry. A medium-bodied wine, the company boasts that it has bright cherry, sweet spice and a supple, velvet finish with cola aromas and hints of vanilla. My palate isn’t that developed. What I know is that is was the perfect wine to sip while I put my feet up. It’s definitely going on my list of wines to serve during gatherings. I’m even going to try it on the women I know who don’t really like wine.
Their bottles come with a convenient chart that not only gives you an inkling of the flavors in an easy-to-read way, but also states where the wine falls on the dry - medium dry - medium sweet - sweet continuum. Perfect!
Vitner David Georges became fascinated by grape growing while working at an organic vegetable farm in the Mt. Shasta region of California. After planting a small vineyard there, he was inspired to study viticulture at the University of California. His goal is to stay true to each wine’s varietal character, and to make great tasting wines that don’t break the bank. These are relatively new wines and were first released earlier this year. The grapes were harvested in September 2009.
What makes this study so interesting is that I’m approaching it from two sides. First, my bible study group at Park Methodist (feel free to join us Wednesdays from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.) decided to start reading “Every Woman in the Bible.” This book offers a complete look at every woman mentioned in the Bible, even those who are left unnamed. There is a detailed glossery in the back, and lots of good information spread over 16 chapters in this 302-page book. Written by the husband and wife duo, Larry and Sue Richards, this book strives to show how God appreciates women and it illustrates their contributions over the years.
I am also reading a variety of feminist essays (including “Sexual/Textual Politics” by Toril Moi) for a theory class I’m taking on the way to earning my master’s degree in English. These selections come from very different perspectives, but I have found a lot of overlap already after just a week and a half.
AT THE BEGINNING
In Christian churches, it is difficult to find women in leadership roles. As a woman, I find it very disconcerting to be without strong women role models. As a mother of a girl, I find it frustrating. I want to teach her that woman are valuable members of society, but the church we are a part of (loosely) doesn’t seem to place a high value on being a woman. Instead, many cling to the verses that seem to say woman are subordinate to men and valued less.
I don’t buy into that. I think that leaders should be the ones with strong leadership qualities that have nothing to do with their sex.
And I’m finding support in scripture. That’s wonderful.
The first chapter in “Every Woman in the Bible” takes a hard look at the creation and fall story. As representative of all women, the way God viewed Eve is pretty important. Plus, she was the first to taste the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Was she cursed to be subordinate to man because of that?
The short answer is “No.” Neither she nor Adam were cursed as the Serpant/Satan was. Instead, what Adam and Eve suffered were merely consequences of their bad choices. The ate and their eyes were opened. Things were changed. They couldn’t go back to how things were before. Bliss was outside of their grasp (which sucks for the rest of us).
If you pick up this book, I found the chart on page 9 to be particularly useful. Satan, Adam and Eve all suffered physical, spiritual, social and psychological consequences following the Fall.
Physically, women faced a more painful childbirth and increased frequency of menustration. Psychologically, women became filled with an urge to please men, replacing the former desire to please God. (Have you ever wondered why women are so obsessed about obtaining attention and approval from men? I sure have!) Societally, women’s roles were distorted and opportunities limited. Spiritually, women replaced an orientation to true self and God with an orientation to please men.
Men also suffered consequences. Because the earth was cursed, man’s achievements were riddled with struggle. The urge to achieve and dominate replaced a desire to please God. Male dominance was institutionalized and women subjegated. The orientation man originally had towards God was replaced with a desire to achieve dominance. Over nature. Over each other. Over women. Over everything.
If things in Eden were under the authority of the male, then certainly the Serpant would have gone directly to Adam to convince him to eat the fruit knowing that Eve would have no choice but to follow what Adam did. She would have had to do just what he did (under the current view of patriarchy). Instead, he went to Eve knowing that what she did, Adam was likely to do, as well. (See “Beyond Sex Roles” by Gilbert Bilezikian).
Why is this all important? Because it lays the foundation for not only Christian thought, but the way it has rippled through our entire male-centered society. Many people use the story of the Fall in Genesis to prove that women are supposed to be under male authority. But a closer examination of these verses show that this certainly wasn’t how God intended things to be. Instead, we should be working towards what God did intend: Equality and partnership between the sexes.
Get inspired at the Parade of Homes. The final day of the event is today, Sunday, April 3 and it culminates with the Remodelers Showcase.
The Remodelers Showcase is a great place for ideas on ways to make your old home work better for you.
As someone who has just finished a remodel and will be heading into another spurt soon, I am particularly interested in the Remodeler’s Showcase: 69 beautifully remodeled homes from 57 remodeling firms, in 26 communities across the extended Twin Cities metropolitan area. There are 12 homes in Minneapolis and three in St. Paul (including one Dream Home which is To Die For!), making it particularly convenient for those of us who live in the Big M.
Browse homes from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 3. The event web site is also full of information, and many homes have virtual tours.
R52 is a must see in St. Paul. There's a $5 admission fee, but it's well worth it to get inside this stately Tudor that has been completely redone. Gorgeous.
I recommend visiting R52 off Edgcumbe Road in St. Paul: A stately 1926 English Tudor in Highland Park. It’s a beauty. This "whole-home" remodel showcases stained cherry and painted cabinetry, a formal dining room filled with stone, butler's pantry, mud room, Carrera marble, soapstone, granite, and more. The details make the home. While some of the remodeled homes we saw had choppy layouts, this addition flowed seamlessly. The $5 cost to view was well worth it; and the money went to a good cause, the Builder’s Outreach Foundation which helps build low-income families homes in the Twin Cities area.
Don’t bother seeing the home on Summit Avenue, even though it is across from the Governor’s Mansion. It’s just a plain basement with a really big TV. Nothing special. It is gorgeous from the outside, however; I was dying to get upstairs but only the basement was open to visitors. All right. Maybe you want to drive by it. It is gorgeous from the outside.
The Parade of Homes web site has an easy-to-use search engine where you can look by city, project type (such as addition, kitchen, master’s suite, bathroom) or remodeler. Save the houses you are interested in to generate directions later. Finding the houses are easy; just follow the bright yellow and red signs. Usually, the number of parked cars gives it away, too. You can also pick up a guidebook at any Holiday Stationstore. Oh, and wear slip-on shoes. You'll be taking them off at each home.
If you’re more interested in new houses, opt to view some of the 342 new homes on display in 74 cities. A few hot spots are Blaine (35 homes), Woodbury (22) and Maple Grove (21). The nice thing is that not all the homes are high-end, high-buck. There are five are priced below $150,000. Over 70% of the homes are priced below $500,000. There are two Dream Homes priced over $3,000,000. It costs $5 to get into either of these beauties, but again the donation goes to a good cause. This time proceeds are helping fund a third ReBuild Haiti trip.
I was inspired by this library fashioned out of simple wooden shelves and fancy supports. How easy would this be to add to a room?
I was definitely inspired by this year’s Remodelers Showcase. It’s not always the big things, but instead the little touches a home has that stick with me. For instance, I have a lot of books and I’ve been trying to decide how to store them. One home on the tour in the Seward neighborhood had a beautiful library made of simple wooden shelves and fancy supports set against a great wall color. I could easily incorporate that into my own house.
Those are the ideas I’m looking for. Of course, seeing the fancy stuff is fun too!
I'm a (rather) recent transplant to the big city of Minneapolis from a small town one hour north.
I've been exploring this big city and all it has to offer, as well as the fun of other places. We have just started homeschooling. We love to learn and travel. We focus on fresh and natural foods. We live a "crunchy" lifestyle.
We'll drive with the windows wide open so that we don't miss a thing.
