PERFECT THREADS INC. REVIEW

      I recently had the privilege of reviewing products from the company, Perfect Threads. If you are unaware of the business, they are an online consignment store that sell both infant & children's clothing, from newborn up to size 14.
What I personally love about the idea of an online consignment store is:
1) CONVENIENCE--you do not even need to leave the comfort of your home--my kind of shopping! ;)
2) SAVINGS--as many of you parents know, clothing is one of the largest expenses while raising children, and why pay full price when you do not need to!

When I was initially contacted by Perfect Threads, I quickly jumped on the website and was pleasantly surprised. Not only was the website very easy to navigate, but the selection of clothing was above par! What I admired MOST was to see that proceeds from donated clothing goes straight to charities listed on the site--what a "feel good" moment! Nothing warms my heart more than to see a business assist in helping out the lives of others that are less fortunate.

  

   

     Perfect Threads' main mission is to initiate and aid parents in making that first step to "clean out and de-clutter the kids closets!" What music to my ears! If you have been following my blog for awhile, you will know how ORGANIZATION and de-cluttering are essential parts of my life. I had recently spent an entire Saturday clearing my two children's dressers and closets of winter clothing, and swapping with their spring & summer items. Therefore, I was left with over 3 bags of pants and shirts that were either too small or I knew my son would outgrow by this time next year--so Perfect Threads was introduced to me at the absolute perfect moment! On their website, you can choose either to send in and SELL your gently used items, which are then applied as a 'credit' to your account for future purchases OR have the option to have your items considered "donations" and all proceeds from the sales go straight to charity--I chose the latter :) One concern I had though was "would this cost me a large chunk of money to ship my children's used items to their head office?" Well, as I searched online, I was pleased and impressed to see that clothing can be shipped for FREE! How it works is, a large bag is sent to your home--you fill the bag(s)--click "pick up my bags" on the website and UPS is there within little time to take your items. Talk about efficiency!
     So I ordered my items late Thursday evening and they arrived by Tuesday morning. Needless to say, I was eager to see each item in full view. (The attached photo shows the items I purchased for my son). Side Note: since Perfect Threads does not accept returns or exchanges, I highly recommend viewing each item you plan on buying in full view by zooming in to inspect!

   I cannot complain at all about the quality of the clothing--both pairs of shorts and the button-up short sleeve shirt were in mint condition to the point I questioned if they were ever even used!
I also cannot speak negatively in regards to the company's customer service. I had a few questions before ordering and received a response within less than an hour with all the answers. Not to mention, the speedy delivery service was fantastic!

    To be honest, the only negative I can point out is that although I did not have a problem, a 'return policy' would be beneficial to anyone that may run into issues with the clothing, and not list items as final sale. As I previously said, to avoid disappointment, just make sure to look over the items online thoroughly :)

Here are a few questions I asked Perfect Threads:

 1. What do you believe sets you above other 'like' companies?

 A: Unlike other companies that sell gently-used kids clothing on-line, we are a social enterprise and are focused on supporting a social, as well as business agenda:

a.       We take the risk out of buying gently-used clothing with our 100% satisfaction policy.  If any customer is not happy with any item they have purchased, they simply have to let us know and we will make it right
b.      Donations to charity are integral to our business model, not an afterthought.  Our patrons can use their payouts to right-size their kids clothes, or, they can donate that money or their clothes to charity.  Any monetary donations above $20 are eligible for a tax receipt.
c.       We ensure that no article of kids clothing goes unused and are not needlessly discarded into landfills.  We fully support recycling and re-use of kids clothes.

 2. Do you accept items/donations for all seasons, or are there times that a certain season is accepted?

 A: All items are accepted during all seasons.

 3. Will you ever consider buying/selling junior sizes?

 A: We currently accept and sell sizes Newborn to Size 14.  Whether we move into Junior sizes will be determined by market demand.  If the market demands it, we will supply it.  Currently the market seems to focused on smaller children’s sizes.

 4. Do you currently have any sales you would like readers to know about?

 A: We will be having our Summer promotion in June  where our newsletter subscribers will be receiving great discounts.  Only newsletter subscriber will get these great deals and anyone can become a subscriber by entering their  e-mail address in the Newsletter Signup box at the bottom of our web page.
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 If you have children or grandchildren, I do highly suggest visiting Perfect Threads website and browsing their inventory. Great quality, great prices & convenience--how can you say no to that?!

www.perfectthreads.ca

Also, you can *like* on Facebook here.

KALE CHIPS RECIPE

I am absolutely in LOVE with Kale chips! Not only are they super tasty, but they are HEALTHY too!

Try them today:

Ingredients

1 head kale, washed and thoroughly dried
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and garlic powder for sprinkling

Directions

Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F.Remove the ribs from the kale and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces. Lay on a baking sheet and toss with the olive oil, garlic and salt. Bake until crisp, turning the leaves halfway through, about 20 minutes.

Tip of the Day #318: Best Mold-Killer

Fill a spray bottle with white vinegar, and add about 3-4 drops of tea tree oil (a little goes a long way) Spray on all areas, let sit for approx 1.5 hours, then wipe away!

Fact vs. Fiction: Putting Cleaning Myths to Rest!

When it comes to cleaning, everyone has her favorite tips and techniques. But much of what you think you know about keeping your house and clothing spotless and germ-free may not necessarily be true. From which household surface cleaners to use to which laundry settings are the best, find out what’s fact and what’s fiction!

1. Myth: All cleaning products kill all germs.One reason you clean is to keep your family healthy. But not all cleaning products do the same job. There’s a difference between a sanitizer and a disinfectant. Sanitizers kill 99.99% of bacteria, while disinfectants kill a wider array of germs, including viruses that cause colds and flu. Therefore, a sanitizer is fine for surfaces like blinds and cabinets, but you need a disinfectant for germier spots, like the kitchen sink and bathtub, which may harbor disease-causing bugs such as salmonella and e. coli. 

2. Myth: You can wipe up cleaning spray immediately.Solutions need time to remain in contact with the surface before they can kill germs. Sanitizers work in about 30 seconds, but you should always stick to the recommendation on disinfectants’ labels. In general, disinfectants need one to 10 minutes to do their thing. But it’s okay to wipe up a surface that’s still wet if you’ve waited the length of time specified on the bottle.

3. Myth: Bleach is the only cleaner you need.Bleach is a good, inexpensive disinfectant, but besides the fact that many surfaces don’t need disinfecting, bleach can be too harsh for some natural stone surfaces, like marble. It can damage the sealant or cause etching of the surface. If you aren’t cleaning stone and you do need a disinfectant, certain bleaches still may not be the right choice. Scented and color-safe bleaches, for instance, aren’t disinfectants, so they don’t kill bacteria and viruses on household surfaces—they just make clothes brighter in the laundry. 

4. Myth: All clean surfaces smell good.Scent comes from the chemicals or natural oils that are added, not from the cleanliness of the surface. Scented and unscented versions of the same product (except bleach) clean equally well. If you enjoy fragrances, go ahead and choose a product that smells good to you or better yet, ADD YOUR OWN SCENT to your homemade cleaners with essential oils. But if a family member has allergies or asthma or is sensitive to strong odors, use unscented cleaning products—and detergents, fabric softeners and dryer sheets too, for that matter.

5. Myth: You should always wash clothes on “cold” to save money and energy.Using the cold-water setting on your washing machine does save energy, and it’s often necessary for silky delicates. But hot water is more effective at destroying bacteria, mold, viruses and allergens like dust mites. Choose hot water (140 degrees) for loads of undergarments, towels, sheets and clothes of sick family members. Most importantly, treat laundry like you’ve rummaged through the garbage: Wash your hands in between handling dirty and clean loads and before preparing food.

6.  Myth: Your washing machine is clean inside.Not exactly. Germs that can make you sick are on dirty clothes, and they can lurk in your washer and transfer to other clothes in the same load—or to clothes in the next load. Cleaning your washer weekly can reduce the spread of germs. Just run a cup of white vinegar in a hot cycle on the lowest water level (be greener by washing your whites with it). Two more tips: Never let wet laundry sit in the washer overnight because it can become a colony of breeding germs, and always dry clothes on high heat, which, like washing in hot water, also helps kill germs. 

7. Myth: Frequent vacuuming ruins carpets.It’s the opposite, actually: Regular vacuuming helps your carpet last longer. Dirt and grit are abrasive. When they get ground into the carpet, they ruin carpet fibers. So the more often you vacuum, the more dirt and dust you remove before they can damage the carpet. Vacuum at least weekly in overlapping front-to-back motions to dislodge soil, empty the bag or canister when it becomes half-full to maintain good suction and avoid using the power head on the fringe of area rugs so you don’t suck it up and mangle it.

8. Myth: You must use specialty cleaners for different surfaces in your home.It seems like there’s a separate cleaner for everything from stainless steel appliances to mirrors to granite countertops. They’re expensive and not usually necessary. For most tasks, a microfiber cloth without any additional cleaning solution works well. Use a slightly damp one for dusting furniture and floors or getting smears off stainless steel. Use a dry one on mirrors. Microfiber can be used with a disinfectant product, too, if the surface is germy. Wash microfiber cloths in a separate load without fabric softener (which affects their absorbency and effectiveness) and let air-dry. But natural stone surfaces, like those made of marble and travertine, require special cleaners with the proper pH; check product labels to make sure you’re buying the most appropriate one.

Tip of the Day #317: Preserving Nuts

Nuts are expensive and I usually take awhile to finish a package. I don’t want them to go to waste by going rancid.

So, to keep nuts fresher a little longer, I put my nuts in the freezer. The great thing about freezing nuts, is they don’t freeze like liquids do. Just take the bags out of the freezer and the nuts are ready to go. No defrosting needed!

Tip of the Day #316: Toy Keepsake Frame

Once your child(ren) have outgrown their toys, glue them to a frame and spray paint for a unique picture frame! What a unique keepsake :)

Tip of the Day #315: Pantyhose as Hair Ties

Great tip for moms & their little girls--

Old tights can make great hair ties by cutting 1 inch strips from the ankle. The thicker the band, the higher your ponytail, top knot or bun will be!