“Childish Things” a third in a series of kids resale shops, by Edy Kizaki and assistant Madeleine Anthony.

Right off the busy Holman Road in Greenwood you will find Childish Things, a small high quality children’s and maternity store.  After struggling to find parking in the small lot outside the store, I walked into a most organized and clean resale boutique.  It is such a nice little store, at first glance it seemed like all new items.  New toys racks are the first you see in the store, and as you continue to browse, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish the used toys as they are of such high quality. Not only the toys are in such nice condition, but even the used clothes are steam cleaned and ironed every day so as to appear new when hanging on the racks.

The girls that work here do an exceptional job at choosing items to buy from consigners and they believe this is because their consigning system is different than other resale store in Seattle.  Childish Things “buys outright” which means that they offer people store credit or 75% cash on the spot. In this system, they must be really selective on what they put on the racks in this store otherwise they would lose too much money for the business.

The girls that work here love the fact that they are all so different because their differences allow them to choose a wide variety of toys and styles of clothes to resell in their store.  They also have a great selection of used and inexpensive maternity wear.  There is a whole separate room filled with maternity clothing as well has shelves above filled with educational books for both parents and kids.  It is important to have such a resale store in this neighborhood because families come from all over the Seattle area to visit Carkeek park which is just a few blocks up the road from Childish things.  You might even consider making a day trip out to Greenwood—do some shopping at Childish Things and then go play at Carkeek Park.

Madeleine Anthony, Young Seattle Mom and Real Estate Assistant

Out and about in Seattle?  What has been billed as the “worst” storm in Seattle history (ask the kids and you may hear it’s the “best” storm) has ended up being a little less ferocious than at first thought.  The National Weather Service has revised its predictions and now we are told that we will have up to 6 inches by 2 p.m. today.  That is definitely enough for the schools to be closed for a second day.  We got the expected recorded call from Seattle Public Schools last night telling us there would be no school again today (Thursday the 19th).  Another day of snow fun at the park, apparently!  I wonder if my snow people will still be there from yesterday, at Whitman Middle School in Ballard.

Some of you will be wondering much more urgent things as you try to plan your route to work in the morning.  A new Seattle Department of Transportation website feature, live traffic video available for 24 camera placed strategically around the city, should be of some help.  SEATTLE TRAFFIC CAMERA WEBSITE.  Knowing about this, I will probably use it to predict how long it will take me to get to numerous places across town, whenever I need to be there (to show homes of course!), and certainly they ought to come in handy today as you go about your day.  The site says it’s a new experiment and they want feedback, and I would love to hear from you too on whether it is as useful as it looks to be.  By the way, if you’re in Bellevue, try this BELLEVUE TRAFFIC CAMERA WEBSITE.  And here is a group of local weather cameras located at different schools, SET FOR KIRKLAND.  If you go forward, the next one is at Shorecrest High School in Shoreline.   Lastly, I wanted to include the WSDOT list of webcams in different communities, which includes Issaquah, Lynnwood and Redmond as well as Seattle and Bellevue.

A report on one of my favorite parks, not far from our home in Ballard, by my assistant Madeleine Anthony:

Having spent my childhood in Seattle and now a mother, I must say that Carkeek Park is a favorite park in the north Seattle area.  Between the Ballard and Greenwood neighborhoods at the edge of Puget Sound, lies the huge 220 acres of Carkeek Park.  Hiking trails offer adventures in the wilderness right in the city; explore forests and wetlands, cross bridges and duck under fallen trees.  Barbeque areas of different sizes, all with views of the sound and Olympic Mountains, can be reserved through the Park’s Department for larger parties.

Two great playgrounds serve people of all ages on one side of the giant field where you can find people bathing in the sun, playing soccer, and Frisbee.   Beware of the giant Salmon who eats small children and shoots them through a tunnel slide to land in the play area with mosaic art replicating the Piper’s Creek watershed and beach life of the Puget Sound.  Climb down the stairs to the beach front below and explore the wildlife awaiting. When the tide is out, you will find tide pools full of anemones, crabs, and starfish.  Piper’s Creek meets the Sound to create shallow wading areas which are great in the summer for a cool down in the heat.  Several parking lots are found scattered around the park; depending on what you want to do, you can park at the top of Carkeek and hike in or drive down the windy roads and park closer to the play area or the stairs to the beach.

Go to the Seattle Parks and Recreation for directions as it can be a little tricky to find.

By Madeleine Anthony and Edy Kizaki.

“Kids on 45th” is second in a series on Seattle Kid’s Resale Shops by Edy Kizaki and Madeleine Anthony.

The highly desired Wallingford neighborhood is full of resources for a family lifestyle, and N 45th Street, the walkable shopping corridor through the heart of the neighborhood, offers a great kid’s resale shop!

For twenty four years now, this tiny store in downtown Wallingford has been jam packed with great new and used items for kids.  Although a whole lot smaller than other resale stores in Seattle, you can be sure to find good stuff at Kids on 45th.   Larger items are more limited than other resale stores and are sometimes lost under the disorganized chaos of the used clothing racks, but with such a small space it’s hard to expect much better.

One of my favorite things about this store is the dollar rack.  When clothing items do not sell in thirty days they go straight to the dollar rack no matter the quality.  In wandering the store I spoke briefly with a grandmother who lives in the Wallingford neighborhood and is a regular at Kids on 45th.  She walks everywhere in the neighborhood so stops in all the time to check the dollar rack.  On this particular trip she found several cute tops for her two granddaughters in almost new condition.  I also love the mixed up toy bin in the way back by the shoes.  Here you will find bags of miscellaneous toys for super cheap deals.  Sometimes these bags have toys that are missing parts or have some other minor defects however, they are often filled with great learning tools such as blocks or fun musical instruments that are loved by kids just the way they are.  Kids on 45th is located at the perfect location especially for pedestrians.  It is smack dab in between the two most frequented parks in Wallingford (Wallingford Playfield and Meridian Park) and less than a mile from the Woodland Park Zoo.  If you’re out walking through the neighborhood and you’ve forgotten a ball or lost a shoe, it is really easy to stop in and find something good on your way.   Although a little more chaotic than other children’s stores in Seattle, you can find great deals here with just a little patience. Visit their website for more information .

It occurs to me that there are some definite differences between the big box real estate companies that you always see in the media and the smaller firms that are in the market.  The big firms make you fit into their box and some make you qualify with them before they will even take you out to see houses.  Oh and you have to sign an agreement to only use them.  They are great in the neighborhoods that they operate in as they are promoted as “neighborhood experts” but what happens if you don’t exactly know where you want to live and want to see other areas.  Hmmm, could be a problem.  The other issue is just because your friend, relative, neighbor is an excellent realtor for the big box real estate company where you are, does that mean that the person on the other side of the country is equally as good.  There are no guarantees as to the competence of realtors in a big box real estate company.  So it is imperative that buyers get a hold of “Buyers Realtors” in the community that they are looking, to find someone that is willing to work for you before you move.

What are “Buyers Realtors”?  These are agents/brokers, states like to mix these terms so I’ll call them realtors, who work mainly with people looking to buy a home.  Most of the big box real estate buyers realtors are again neighborhood experts that know everything within their neighborhoods.  But, cross over into another neighborhood or city and most won’t know as much as someone that works in that area.  The smaller company buyers realtors will go wherever they need to and may not know as much minutia about an area but will know about or be able to direct you to the website that can give you the information.  Ever wonder about schools, gyms, parks, in different areas?  All of this information is available and a good buyers realtor will get it to you.  There have been an occasions when someone doesn’t know the different communities and aren’t really sure where to live but they work in downtown Seattle, for instance.  What happens then?  Think a neighbor expert will know where you want to live?  Well certainly…in their area.  What if it’s not convenient or you want to use mass transit and it is not where you want to be?

Here are some things that buyers should consider: First, who’s going to know more about a variety of areas in the general vicinity of where they work?; Secondly, how soon is the relocation planned for; Thirdly, who is able to give you insights into the different areas that you are interested in; and Finally, who wants to assist you.  Many of the websites out there are good for looking up properties and most will have a realtor attached to them, that will contact you.  Don’t be afraid of talking to someone about what you want.  It is one of the biggest purchases that you make in life so get someone that can help you find the home that you really want.  As I said earlier, find someone to work with before you move.  In this way, you will find out how much they know and what their ability is to look outside their office area.  Depending on the realtor, you may even be able to eliminate some areas without even being there yet with the information that you get from them.  If you like to get paper resources, some firms will send you “relocation packs”  which are filled with some information about the areas that you might want to consider.

Good hunting!

Please let me know if I can assist you.

Me N Mom's in Ballard

Me ‘N Moms, a Labor of Love in Ballard, First in a series on Seattle Kids’ Resale Shops by Edy Kizaki and Madeleine Anthony
It’s incredibly hard work but totally worthwhile to run the largest children’s resale store in Seattle. With over 9,300 consigners and over 500 new items to go through every day, Me ‘N Moms has by far the largest volume of resale children’s products in the area.  According to Wendy, the owner since 2001, it is really important to have such a “recycling center” in the neighborhood.  “To have a resale store with high quality products allows families to save as much as 70%, and that really helps many people,” she

from A to Z, everything you may need and more

tells me.   It is tons of work going through all the junk people bring in, but Wendy picks out the best stuff as she aims to move along 70% of the items she takes in within two months.  She refers to her work as a labor of love and in talking with her it is clear that she truly loves what she does.  She’s really proud of the community and the concern for recycling.  Shoppers and consigners of Me ‘N Moms are “down to earth people who really care”.
Located at the north end of downtown Ballard on Market street, Me ‘N Moms boasts the most extensive and most organized store I have found yet.  Lots of street parking as well a large parking lot make it easy to pop in and out stress free.    If you know what you are looking for, it will be easy to find in this store.  Furniture and larger items such as strollers, cribs, and rockers are found on the upper level immediately when you walk in.  Little neon colored signs are posted all around the store indicating which area you are in.  New and used toys are found in abundance.   Of all the resale stores we’ve visited Me ‘N Moms has the largest and most organized selection of clothes with sizes clearly marked and separated.   Along with stylish items for all seasons there were some really great Halloween costumes as well.  We left with a handful of nice books from the $.25 book bin.  The labor of love has surely paid off with the success of three other stores around the Seattle area all owned by different members of the same family.  Check the website Me N Moms for more information on any of their three stores .

Madeleine Anthony, Young Seattle Mom and Real Estate Assistant

Tudor Estate on the Magnolia Bluff

Puget Sound Waterfront Tudor Style House on the Magnolia Bluff

Even Henry VIII didn’t have it this good: Enter through your front door set into a castle tower.  Admire your Tudor Great Hall on the way to the brick patio with unobstructed Puget Sound view.  Jaunt down to your private beach, and then back up to your hot tub with a view and outdoor hot shower.  Henry might have appreciated the indoor plumbing, microwave, and sub-zero refrigerator.

History buffs will appreciate the period touches:

• Front door set into a castle tower.
• High-ceiling Great Hall with massive chandelier suspended from exposed wooden rafters and sword with shield mounted above the fireplace.
• Top-nailed oak flooring throughout most of the house.
• Leaded glass windows with a coat of arms.
• Carolingian chandelier in the dining room.
• Fine woodwork running up the staircase to the landing with bookshelves on the second level.
• Carriage style garage doors.

The owners spent lavishly to upgrade the physical infrastructure of this property:

• The cliff side is encased in gunite concrete to prevent erosion.
• A massive and sturdy stair and deck structure was built to reach the beach.
• New half inch thick treated cedar roof shingles.
• High efficiency Buderus heating system.

I visited on a dreary day and my photos don’t do it justice, but the view from this property is spectacular over Puget Sound, to the snow-capped Olympic Mountains, the sunsets, the shipping traffic, and the occasional whale.

Click through for more details and photos of this Magnolia View Home.

Check out live listings of:

• King County Puget Sound Waterfront Homes
• Lake Washington and Sammamish Waterfront Homes
• King County Estate Homes on 3+ Acres

Enter through the Tower

Tudor Great Hall

Fine Woodwork throughout the House

Puget Sound View Deck

Private Beach on Puget Sound

Coat of Arms

Seattle.  Ballard.  Shilshole Bay.  The marina at sunset.  Welcome to one of the still, luminous moments to be experienced here in the Pacific Northwest.

Next to Puget Sound, in the old Ballard neighborhood, lies Golden Gardens Park and Shilshole Bay Marina.  These days Ballard is one of the cool Seattle destinations, and locals treasure the restaurants and shopping on Market St NW and Ballard Ave.  But then there’s Sunset Hill, the neighborhood just over Golden Gardens Park on the bluff.  Stairs down from 34th Ave will take neighborhood walkers down steep flights to the Sound, or you can drive down.  Or if you go down Market St past the Ballard Locks, you can drive along the Marina north (past two great eating spots, Ray’s Boathouse and Anthony’s) till you get to the park and the beach at Golden Gardens.  Either way the views of the sunset are quietly breathtaking.

Today was the first day of the Yule Fest at the Nordic Heritage Museum in Ballard.  Happy crowds thronged the grounds under a bright blue November sky.  Inside the impressive brick museum musicians performed, bakers served traditional Norwedgian cookies and drinks, and crafts were offered in a number of the little rooms where normally all that is on view is sets showing the old time life in the Ballard area of Seattle.

What a day, full of interest and a good way to get a jump on Christmas shopping.  Several of those on my list are going to be pleasantly surprised by glass butter dishes, silver antique teaspoons, boiled wool jackets, hand made bright red candlesticks, little wooden flying horses, and other Nordic special tolkens of the season.  Not to mention the yummy Christmas cookies, ceramics, earrings, and traditional wheat sheaves.

Tomorrow is the 2nd day of the event, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with Santa in attendance!  For more information, please see the Yulefest website.

One of the best elementary schools in Seattle is the Loyal Heights Elementary School located in the Ballard neighborhood.  Serving grades K-5, it is among the few public elementary schools that are recognized for high student academic achievement.

According to the Seattle Times article, its students passed state standardized tests in reading, math and writing by 83 to 93 percent; that is a significantly higher than the state average of 53 to 69 percent!  Testimony to school, teachers, and student’s success, Loyal Heights Elementary School was recently named a national Blue Ribbon School by the Department of Education.

More on Loyal Heights Elementary School

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