Value Store Systems

Saving on Hobbies, Crafts, Gardening: A Surprising Resource

For those us who enjoy arts crafts and/or gardening, Spring signals a bonanza of great sales. Stores such as Michael’s, Hobby Lobby, Garden Ridge, Walmart and Target are offering super deals on floral supplies, Easter and baby crafts, children’s craft kits (to stay entertained during Spring break) and of course, everything one can imagine for gardening.

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Even with great sales, hobbies are expensive. For example, if you like floral arranging, all the relatively inexpensive items it takes to create something beautiful–flowers, wreaths, vases, floral wire and tape, glass, natural, pebbles, etc.–can really add up. I have a wonderful secret that I’ll share with you and advise you to take advantage of before you head to one of these stores to shop. Go to a Dollar Tree first.

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I’m not kidding. And before you dismiss my advice because you think the dollar store only carries cheap, generic, diluted knock offs of brand name merchandise, just try it. To defend my position and prove my point, I did some “research” over the weekend. I had just spent $50 at on items intended to entertain three children I was caring for on Saturday. My stash included two puzzles ($8), four kites ($10), bubbles and bubble paraphernalia ($12), an activity book and crayons ($5.50), a sun catcher craft kit ($5), two plastic dinosaurs ($4) and two grow-in-water dolphins ($4).

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On Sunday, I was in Dollar Tree and saw the exact same bubble swords I had purchased at Target for $1.99 for $1. I had purchased four of them, and overspent by $4. Curious, I went to the puzzles. Disney puzzles, 250 and 500 piece puzzles were $1 each. I had spent $3.99 for the exact same puzzles, overspending by $6.

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I then decided to do an aisle-by-aisle walk through and see what else I might be overspending on. Armed with a pen, paper and camera, I chose five categories to research and compare: Toys, Floral, Gardening, Books and Magazines and a Miscellaneous category (nice surprise deals to keep top-of-mind).

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Browse through the image gallery to see just a few of the items offered for $1 at Dollar Tree. You’ll find the savings significant and allow you to more freely pursue and enjoy your hobbies without “busting the budget!

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1) Toys

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• Puzzles: Includes Disney (ie Toy Story, Little Mermaid), Thomas Kincaide, Americana, Star Wars, 24–500 piece puzzles, wooden puzzles.

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• Bubble Swords: The exact same bubble swords at Target are $1.99.

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• Kites: 2 for $1

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• Paint Sets: Sun catcher paint sets, Disney paint sets.

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2) Crafts and Floral Supplies

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• Flowers: Huge variety of type and color (see pictures)

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• Floral Tape and Wire

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• Glass and Natural Pebbles (for vases and crafts)

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• Natural and Foam Floral Wreaths

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• Baskets: Wood, canvas and plastic, decorative and storage, many shapes, sizes and colors.

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• Candles: Pillar, long, votive and tea lights (including battery operated) in a variety of shapes and scents. Glass and metal candle plates and holders.

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• Scented Oils, Potpourri, Incense, Scented Linen Water

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• Glass Vases: Large and small, single stem to large vases, contemporary and traditional shapes.

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• Glues: Everything from basic white craft glue to super glue and strong epoxy cement.

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• Ribbon: Spools in large variety of solids and patterns.

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• Craft Sticks (Popsicle sticks)

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• Glue Guns and Refills

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• Scrapbooking Supplies

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• Paper: Construction paper, drawing and sketch pads, poster paper: 2 for $1, foam board, computer stationary. Note: 3M products such as Post-Its, tape and mailing supplies are in stock.

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3) Gardening Supplies

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• Flower and Vegetable Seeds: 4 packages for $1.  

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• Pots and Planters: Ceramic and plastic, various sizes, colors and designs.

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• Garden Tools: Many hand tools: trowels, small shovels, hoes and rakes, buckets. Sturdy, plastic children’s garden tools are also available.

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• Gloves, Kneeling Pads and Stools

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• Figurines, Garden Ornaments and Plant Markers, Decorative Signs and Stands                                                                                                                                              

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 4) Books, Crosswords, Sudoku and Word Finds

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• Hardback Books: There’s an excellent selection of hardback books, many of them recent best sellers. I’m told they may be from a batch that has a typo somewhere in the book. Personally, I’ve never been able to find a flaw and have enjoyed many biographies, self help, inspirational and popular fiction books from the selections.

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• The same crosswords, Sudoku and word find books that cost $3.99 to $7.99 everywhere else may be found here for $1.

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 5) Miscellaneous Deals

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• Premium Computer Photo Paper/Glossy, 8 1/2 x 11, 8 sheets, scrapbook safe, acid free.

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• Batteries: Contrary to popular belief, Dollar Tree batteries are NOT past their expiration dates. Batteries at Dollar Tree are fine for everything but digital cameras; invest in better batteries for them.

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•  Seasonal Items: Decorative themes in plates, cups, napkins, utensils, wrap, bows, bags and party favors. Most gift bags at other stores start at $1.99 and don’t have the  variety of sizes, colors and designs you can buy here for half the price.

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• Refrigerated Frozen Foods: Many Dollar Tree stores offer refrigerated and frozen foods. They offer a large selection of meats, cheeses, dairy products, desserts and quick meals–and nothing is over $1.

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While a dollar store may not always carry the best or higher end materials needed to create your special project, it may provide enough savings on the basic staples needed to start a whole new project. Either way, you’ll be delighted at how much money you can save by paying attention to the prices of the “little things. Paying less for “little things” result in a big payoff. Happy crafting!

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Dollar Tree
995 Roswell St NE, Marietta, GA 30060
770-422-0823

Which summer camp to choose? Experienced moms offer advice

With spring break in the rearview mirror for most families, its time to start planning for summer.

If you are considering sending your child to camp for the first time, or even the second, the choices available can be quite daunting. I jumped this parenting hurdle last summer with my then-7-year-old daughter, Abigail. She came home from school one day with a backpack full of fliers and a long verbal list of where everyone was going. So I did what any parent in this perplexing situation would do. I turned to the experts in the field: other parents. I talked with several moms about their favorite summer camps and how they chose them.

Their advice helped us narrow dozens of choices to the perfect one. Here are some general tips, garnered from real-life moms who helped me.

Price

How much does the camp cost? For many families this is the deciding factor. Sticking with what is affordable for your own budget is a no-brainer, but be sure that you are figuring in the total cost, including extra fees and the expenses youll incur for supplies. Looking for discounts and scholarships ahead of time might make a pricier camp affordable. Renting gear instead of purchasing is a great way to save.

Holly Shipman, mom of Ben, 11: We have rented gear from TCU before, when my husband was a student. It was nice to rent and not to actually own the stuff. (Note: TCU equipment rental is available only to faculty, staff and students. More information: www.campusrec.tcu.edu/outdoor/rentals.html.)

Duration

How long does the camp last? Is it a day camp, or will your child stay overnight? If your child has stayed overnight away from home and parents, he or she may be ready for overnight camp. If this is the first time away, day camp may be a better choice.

Shana Hazzard, mom of Callie, 8: I asked Callie if she would like to go to an overnight camp and she said yes. She has spent the night with friends and family and never had any problems with homesickness. She has a naturally outgoing, independent and confident personality. Also, she will have friends there that she already knows as well.

Wendy Blanton, mom of Kate. 10: We decided she wasnt ready because any summer vacation that we take begins to go south if we push it longer than four nights. Its just too long for Kate to be away from home.

Shipman: We consulted with Bens second-grade teacher, and she agreed that he was ready. Ben really wanted to go. This year will be his fourth year to go to the same camp. We are debating sending him for four weeks this summer.

Location

Where is your camp? Consider how long it will take to get there and back and whether flying will be cheaper than driving. Are friends or family members nearby in case of an emergency? Remember that crossing some state lines will bring you into a whole new time zone, as well as different weather.

Blanton: Because Camp Thurman [in Arlington] is a 25-minute drive from central Fort Worth, we try to pick weeks that our friends are attending and carpool with them. Even if we cant find a car pool, the fact that it runs from 9 am to 4 pm makes the 50-minute round-trip doable.

Shipman: Its a bonus for us that the camp is in Michigan. Since the weather is cooler in the summer, they are comfortable outside all the time. Its kind of a pain to travel that far, but weve made it work. We are able to send him letters via e-mail that are printed and hand-delivered to him. We might get one letter from him if were lucky, but hes having fun.

Health and special needs

There are a number of camps geared toward children with special needs, and many offer alternatives for children with asthma, allergies, special diets and heat sensitivity.

Susan Pressley, mom of Mia, 8: In choosing a camp for Mia, I consider whether its outside or inside because she is sensitive to the heat.

Blanton: One of the biggest factors for me is choosing a camp that keeps my kids active during the hot Texas summers. Although it is outdoors, Camp Thurman has been at the top of our list every summer. The staff makes an effort to keep the kids hydrated and sun-blocked, and the day includes two swims. The kids stay in their swimsuits, so they are wet long after they get out of the pool.

Values

Whether or not the camp you choose has a religious affiliation, you will want to look at the camps values to make sure they align with your own. What is your child expected to get out of this camp? How does it handle discipline? How diverse is the group? You need to be able to trust the adults caring for your child.

Hazzard: We chose this camp because it is affiliated with our church, is run by the college that I attended and has a good reputation. We trust the organization running the camp, and we feel comfortable that the other families sending their children there share our values.

Interests

What does your child enjoy doing? Most kids have a wide range of hobbies, so it may be harder than you think to narrow it to something your child wants to do every day for a week (or more). Instead of one weeklong camp, look for two shorter camps that focus on different activities. And who knows? Kids might even develop new interests and hobbies during their time away.

Shipman: The main thing that we wanted in a camp was for it to be a true summer camp like we remembered as kids. That includes funny skits, pranks, outdoor sports, campfire songs and lots of fun. We were surprised that one of his favorite sports at camp is fencing.

New Louisville Metro Police chief to focus on victims, officers

Chief Steve Conrad

Age: 55
Hometown: Louisville
Experience: 1980, joined the old Louisville Police Department; 1997, named assistant police chief, retaining that role in the newly merged metro department; 2005, named chief in Glendale, Ariz.
Education: Bachelor?s degree in police administration; master?s degree in community development, University of Louisville
Hobbies: Exercise, particularly spinning class, and quiet time with his family.
Personal: Married, one daughter.