Disney Cars Die Cast have arrived!

Disney Mattel Cars Diecast Cars Lot 

Some are 2006 First Edition Desert diecast, made in Thailand, the ones marked China are 2007 Supercharged versions. 

Includes: 
Sheriff (Mercury)~Thailand 
Lightning McQueen (A blend of many sports cars) ~Thailand
Doc Hudson (Hudson Hornet)~China
Sally (Porsche 911) ~Thailand
Mater (Inspired by the 1951 International Harvester boom truck)  ~Thailand
Luigi and Guido (Fiat 500) ~China

Available NOW at www.kidcrazee.com in our Toy department! 

Never Under-Estimate the Power of the Security Blanket

So, you get this adorable and super cute blanket at your baby shower from Aunt Thelma, and you decide THIS is THE ONE. The one you will swaddle your precious little one with, take all  those unforgettable first pictures with, the one you will pack away in that box that will remain in your closet until he has his first baby.

Your baby sleeps with that blankie every day. Every nap, and every night time slumber, that blankie is there. From cartoons to car rides, blankie is the best thing around. You sneak it to the washer right after breakfast and dry it quick as lightning, so he'll never know it was gone. Even when that child turns about 2, he still won't  go ANYWHERE with THAT blankie. Your baby has become the child with his "Woobie" in the "Mr Mom." movie. 

And then, IT happens. Blankie goes to the store just like every other grocery day. You come home and unload your toddler and the groceries, and the nightmare begins. "Momma, blankie!!" You figure it must have gotten left in the car again. You go back to the car, and find it's not there. The wave of panic comes. You begin retracing your steps. Think! Think! THINK! "When did I last see blankie? Was it at the bank? At the store? Did I take it out of the cart?" You realize, no. "No, I didn't take it out of the cart!" Back to the house, Milk and Butter in the fridge, and back to the store you go. 

The whole way, your toddler is screaming because it's way past nap time at this point. You try to calm him. You try to tell him in just a minute, he'll have his blankie back. In the back of your mind you're thinking "Pleeeeease, please let the blankie be in the cart." You go back to the cart corral you put your cart in after you unloaded your groceries, but it's empty. Back into the store, and you frantically check EVERY cart in the corral in the entryway. Still no sign of blankie. Off to the Customer Service Desk to see if anyone found it. Your answer is not what you were hoping for. "I'm sorry, no ones turned it in yet. You can leave your name and phone number, and if anyone brings it to us, we'll be sure to get in touch with you." 

In the car, you're thinking "I am NEVER going to sleep again!" Where can I get another blankie?" And it hits you. While having children is a wonderful thing, it does VERY strange things to your memory. "Where did Aunt Thelma say she got that blanket?" and "I can't even remember what the tag said. I have NO idea who made it!" You tell yourself to keep calm..calm. Surely Aunt Thelma will remember where she got it, right? 

The phone call to Aunt Thelma, like most everything else has gone, does not go as you'd hope. She can't remember either. You rush to every department store and baby store as closing time quickly approaches. This is NOT how you planned to spend your day. Thank God for leftovers. Though you try, another blanket can't be found. ANYWHERE. You buy a cuddly blue blanket in hopes that your little one will warm up to it. Not happening. After a dreadfully long night, you pick up your tablet, and try your last resort, look online. But you can't remember anything but that the color was blue and white, it had little stars on it, and on the trim it read "Mommy's Angel". There are a lot of blue things online that say "Mommy's Little Angel". You mutter to yourself  "I really wish I thought to buy a back-up blanket. This day wouldn't have been such a nightmare!" 

That's where online sellers like me come in. I try to keep as many "Woobies" as I can in stock, and ship them to you as quickly as possible to make sure your little one doesn't go without his blankie, and you don't lose anymore sleep! 

Check out my selection and let me save the day! Gently Used Baby Blankets

Love~What No Tornado Can Take Away

I'm always full of good ideas, but somehow, I lack the know-how to always follow through on them. I was recently reading a post on Sandy's Simple Recipes wall on Facebook about a backpack. Just a picture of a used backpack, noting how "lonely" it was since school was over. There were comments about what to do with those backpacks. It hit me then-"why not send them to the tornado victims in Oklahoma?" I posted this comment on her wall, and this beautiful thing happened. She put in touch with Evie's Garden's, whose family is collecting items and donations for a family they've "adopted" in Moore, OK, and anything that that family can't use is being given to others who are in need at this very difficult time. 

She later shared this story with me:
 "I want to share something with you... this family we adopted (my closest neighbor, it's his sister and her family). After the tornado hit, and before they could get back to their home, looters came in. The fifteen year old had been mowing lawns and was saving his money. He had $157 in his wallet. Someone took the money out of his wallet and threw it back down." Through her Facebook page, she raised the $157 and then some to return to the boy. 

This was my reply: 
"I come from a family that didn't have a lot, though I am an only child, I was raised side-by-side with my 6 cousins that lived next door most of my life. My Grandfather was a wonderful man, and the closest thing I ever had to a Dad. He taught us to Love Thy Neighbor, Respect Your Elders, and work hard for what you want, and the best in life will come to you. So, that child, being part of a large family, and working hard to earn that money that was so easily taken, has had "the best in life returned to him", proving my grandad right.  Though I think the most important thing is this child has learned that love, bottom line, is what matters most. He still has his family and his life, to lose that would be far more devastating than $157."

I have since partnered with Evie's Garden's, and I am offering to forward any purchases made through my store to this wonderful and kind-hearted woman, whom along with her sister and niece, is providing a way for us that can't be there to help these families rebuild their lives, and make it through their darkest hour. 

*Delivery confirmation tracking information will be sent to purchaser of donation items. 


*Photo Courtesy of ireport.cnn.com

Barbie 3 Story Dollhouse Parts For Sale

Got a "Fixer-Upper" on your hands? Come check out my selection of Barbie Dollhouse Replacement Parts!

Mattel does not carry replacement parts for dollhouses and they are VERY hard to find! 

How to replace the rear panels on the Fisher Price Loving Family Grand Dollhouse

We all know that though Fisher Price is known for quality toys, they just don't make 'em like they used to. I have also learned in 12+ years of raising children, that children CAN break ANYTHING! My neighbor is planning a move soon, and gave my daughter a broken Fisher Price Grand Dollhouse (the new pink model), and it was missing some parts and one of the inside floor supports were broken. My daughter decided she didn't really want it, so I took it to sell the good parts, as replacement parts for these houses are hard to find, and Fisher Price is offering very limited part selection at this time. 

I was going to sell the entire base, but realized that once the house is constructed there is a slim likelihood that it would need to be completely replaced. However, it occurred to me that the rear panels that close it up for storage, could possibly be cracked or broken off as this plastic is a lot thinner than the 90's version of the Grand Dollhouse. 

So I decided to remove them and sell them as replacements. Well, it was easier said than done, as the bottom of the hinges has been sealed, unlike the earlier versions. I am not one to give up, however, and figured that they got them in there, there must be a way to get them out. I started by poking a small screwdriver eyeglass repair kit through the VERY tiny opening, and pushed and turned until I saw the shiny metal rod. 

 YES! There was a way! I recommend a dremel or very small drill bit and a low setting on a regular drill to make this process a little less tedious and messy. Whatever you do, slow and steady is the best way. 

The next step was to remove the rod. This is where you must be very careful, because the thin plastic at the top of the hinge that remains on the dollhouse cracks very easily. I took a precision screwdriver with a very small flat bit, and gently wiggled in between the plastic and the metal rod. Using light pressure, I was able to pop the rod out of the bottom hole. 

I then flipped the house over and pulled out the exposed metal rod. 

You just finish pulling that bad boy out~

And..

reverse the process for replacement! 

I don't think that the rods will slip out after you replace your broken panel, but I believe a touch of hot glue or super-glue would seal the hole back up if you prefer to be sure. 

These parts will be available for purchase soon at Kid-Cra-Zee Toys and More! 

Disney Cars Toddler Bed Set~Cartoon Cute!

This Disney Cars Lightning McQueen toddler bed set is one of the cuter ones, in my opinion. The newer sets have taken on a more "mature" look, and this set keeps with the "cartoon" genre of the original Cars movie. It features a reversible pillowcase with McQueen on one side and his best bud Tow Mater on the other. I also love the checker board pattern on the trim!

This set was also used on the product image for the Little Tikes Lightning McQueen Roadster Toddler bed. I can't wait for some little boy (or tomboy) to enjoy this in their big boy bed!

I Just Need A Minute...

I'm no expert, but I've raised a few kids in my lifetime. As a parent my #2 biggest complaint about parenting is SLEEP DEPRIVATION. From just cranky to colic, I've had a lot of advice on what to do to get some sleep. While there can be underlying health issues that are very important, and should NOT be ignored, if you're thinking that your baby just doesn't want to "miss anything", and that she's otherwise perfectly healthy, these are some products that have been tried and truly worked for me.

First, the Fisher Price Ocean Wonders Travel Swing. I had purchased a full size version, and my son was scared of it. I put him on the table in this one, and he would get the MOST sleep there as an infant. If it wasn't for this swing, no one would have had clean clothes.

As he got too big for the swing, we tried the Fisher Price Ocean Wonders Bouncer. 

If you thought the screaming of an overtired baby was bad, there's nothing like an overtired, and now TERRIFIED baby. So, I bought the Fisher Price Rainforest Bouncer. 

I heard the angels sing! He LOVED this bouncer! With the help of it's soothing vibration, he kicked, giggled, and cooed himself right to SLEEP! 

I have also mentioned the Baby Einstein Turtle Crib Soother in a previous post. 

This soother was also a favorite with my children. The music and motion of the fish was mesmerizing, and even at 3 years of age, my son was entranced by this soother, and promptly told me to "shut it off!"

*Be sure you are not purchasing a recalled item. The first version was recalled, and the toy was redesigned to meet safety standards. 

If you are interested in purchasing any of these items, and I currently do not have them in stock at www.kidcrazee.com, please email me through the "Email Me" button on my website, and I'll see if I can locate one for you. (Buyer responsible for shipping costs.)

Happy Nappin'! 

You Get What You Pay For

You know what really ticks me off? When you marinate chicken, prepare black beans and rice, and fresco salsa for a fab mexican dinner, and you go to light the grill to cook the chicken you've marinated, and the damn "INSTANT light" charcoal won't light. Not even with fluid ADDED. Looks like leftovers, again.


Know what ticks me off even more? Cleaning the charcoal out of the grill, putting it back in the bag, (and just then noticing that somehow, I missed that this bag had been taped up and put on the shelf.) I now have to make a trip to Wal-Mart to return the charcoal wielding my two children that are going to be very angry they've been drug out in 110 degree heat, AGAIN. Wal-Mart Charcoal=FAIL. 

Just Another Manic Monday...

Can I tell you how glad I am that this day is over? First you must understand that my daughter is like an animal let out of a cage when she doesn't have her meds.

My daughter has to go in to the Dr. every three months because of her ADHD meds. Well, last week when I called for her refills, they told me she had to come in and they didn't have any appts. available until Monday. This was lovely, seeing that she would be out of meds on Sunday, and since it's a "Controlled Substance" that also comes in a patch, and there are 30 to a box, they can't give you some to 'get you through'.

So we go this morning, as scheduled @8:45, we drive the wonderful 20 minute drive through rush hour traffic on I-4, near Orlando.



The Dr. is late. I leave the office around 10:15. I call some of the local pharmacies, and NO ONE in the area has her script, the only location is 1/2 an hour away. I needed to get a couple things at some stores that we don't have around here, so I figured I'd get what I needed and go back to the town I live in and get the script filled at the pharmacy that I TOLD to have it EVERY month (which they agreed to do.)

The shopping was, to say the least, a NIGHTMARE. I was so embarrassed by her behavior, and it fueled the youngest to act "just like my sisser."

I finally make it back to my town and go to the pharmacy. By now it's about noon. I send the script in, they look it up and find they don't have it. They said the only place that had it was 20 minutes away. Grrr. I leave and call the pharmacy I used to use, the nice lady tells me that "I can't give you that information over the phone". I promptly hang up wondering why I bothered to place the call in the first place. Really-gas is $3.40 a gallon, and I drive a truck that has the BIGGEST motor that GMC ever made. You want me to drive all the way there with my script so you can tell me you don't have it?

I decide to re-group and head home because I need to feed my children, and figured I'd make a few phone calls to some of the larger pharmacies. I called the one that's 20 minutes from me, and they had it, but I didn't really feel like another joyride across town. I decided to call Publix, which is about 3 miles from my house. PRAISE THE LORD, they had it. I pack the kids up again, and we're off to Publix. I figured I could get the rest of what was on my grocery list there, so it would be easy to blow the 20 minutes it would usually take them to fill the script. Except today, of course, it would be longer than 20 minutes. We went ALL the way around the store. We had a sample of today's Apron's meal. We went to the bakery for a cookie, my son throws a fit because there's no "sprinkles". We went to the bathroom (where my son promptly pees all over the toilet seat). Checked the pharmacy, still not done. We check out (except that they didn't have the grapes that hubs loves.) We go back to the pharmacy. Hallelujah! The script is ready!

But, by this time, it's too late to put the patch on because it takes 2 hours to work, it's 1:30 in the afternoon, school ends at 4 pm for my daughter, who CANNOT go to school with out the meds- she'd be expelled for sure. So, in the spirit of torturing myself, I make a stop at Winn-Dixie for the grapes before I head home. We walk in, and one child goes one way, and one goes the other. I just needed to get grapes. Instead, I'm the crazy mom running around yelling childrens' names like I'm herding cattle.

Moral of the story: I need drugs.  I'm off for a nice big glass of Bacardi's ya'll. 

Need some sleep?

One of the best baby toy investments you can make. The soothing music, soft lights, and rhythmic motion of the moving fish  are irresistible! 

http://kid-cra-zee.ecrater.com/p/11501475/baby-einstein-neptune-turtle-soothing

Baby Einstein Neptune Soothing Seascapes Turtle Toy. Baby is entertained by Baby Neptune and friends as they swim along in an underwater ocean scene. Fish still move on this unit.

My Little Girl...

My daughter is an 11 year old with ADHD. My daughter asked me last night if she should lie to the kids at school and tell them that she has a boyfriend. Imagine my speechless-ness. This is really a shame, and I am disappointed in this society. I didn't raise my daughter to lie, and I didn't raise my daughter to care what others think. Of course, there's a history for her. She's always struggled socially, she's always turned to teacher's to make her time at school bearable, and to provide comfort from the children that have rejected her. She's always been the smallest in her class, and she's been verbally harassed and bullied, to the point of being attacked by a classmate FIVE times her size.

She's never been interested in sports. This year she's tried out for 2 teams, and because of her size, hasn't made either one. My daughter loves chess, but because some of the kids snickered when she said she wanted to join chess club, she said she didn't want to do it.

My uncle told me when she was about 3 months old, that my daughter was going to be a singer. My daughter loves music. She does love to sing. She's gotten a {real} keyboard, an electric guitar, and karaoke machine in the last 3 years for Christmas. We've bought her instructional DVD's and sheet music. My daughter's school does not have a choir or offer a band program, therefore there is no way for her to meld her love of music into a school related activity. Of course, I've had her on a list for the Jewett School of the Arts since Kindergarten, but I don't have the kind of money it takes to buy her a seat there.

I understand there are things about ADHD and this society that I cannot change. It seems as if every time there is an issue, she is the one who made to suffer because they want HER to change, instead of having to do the difficult thing, and inspire change in the students and schools. I understand that we live in tough times. Single parents, job loss, homeless families. That's just to name a few. But we are still parents. We are still affecting the lives of our children with the choices we make. When we are too busy to monitor what they are watching, who they're talking to, and where they are every minute of every day, we let them go. They are too young to be let go.

We cannot make our children into what we are not. I see girls at my son's elementary school wearing skinny jeans, heeled boots up to their knees, and their hair is dyed every color of the rainbow. Call me conservative, call me old-fashioned if you like. But these are CHILDREN. They are NOT your Barbies. So you had kids and your hair's a mess and you're hips are wider, and you can't wear heels because your feet are bigger. That's YOUR problem. You are doing nothing for these girls by trying to make them into everything you're NOT or a miniature version of what you are.

Make the changes within yourself if you want to help your daughter. Love yourself so that you can love them. FIX YOU. Maybe then, I won't have to tell my daughter that a boy of 11 or 12 years old, doesn't have anything to offer her and won't make her popular, and instead I can tell her that she's beautiful and doesn't need a boy's approval. I can tell her the most important thing for her right now is to be a child and get a good education, not to worry about "swag"..because there's not a middle school aged child on the earth that has it.

My daughter has ADHD. She's still her Daddy's princess...I only just wish she could feel like one.

Kid-Cra-Zee Toys and More is holding a 300 Fan Giveaway! I have some adorable I ♥ To Shop Shirts, available in M,L, and XL. When I get to 300 Fans, ALL LIKERS will be eligible to submit a number for a raffle! Winners to be drawn through Random.org. *Open to US Residents only, unless winner is willing to pay International Shipping Cost to their destination. Click here to visit and "Like" my Facebook Page!

The Little Boy that Cried Wolf

There are so many possibilities, and so much we don't know. Baez knew that Casey could never try to tell the truth because the State did such a good job of painting her as a liar, which, I'm not disputing, there are things she did lie about. However, even if she wanted to tell the truth, no one would believe her. Remember the story of "The Little Boy that Cried Wolf"?

I believe that something awful did happen, not sure what, but Casey was so afraid of being disgraced by her mom, that she went to George and he agreed that Cindy would lose it and probably never speak to Casey again. Look at how she freaked out just finding out that Caylee was missing. Can you imagine having to look her in the eye and tell her that Caylee was dead?


I don't believe that George Anthony is the righteous man that the media or Law Enforcement painted him to be. I think there could be far more involvement on his behalf, whether it be his gambling or his bad temper, that lead to Caylee's demise. I don't buy the story that Law Enforcement didn't see what Roy Kronk was seeing. I think this shady character, who was also accused of kidnapping before and whose own sister didn't want him around her daughter, needed to be investigated further.

I've done my homework on this case. I only wish that all those who hadn't, those who chose to  listen to every media outlet they could, had done the same.

A huge lesson to be learned...

I just listened to the arguement presented by Mr. Mason today Motion for Aquittal today. Funny, he touched on all the points I made in my last blog. No previous reports of child abuse, no SUBSTANTIAL evidence or motive.

What people don't understand is the underlying politics in this case. Orange County Sheriff's Dept. made a huge mistake. They didn't allow the defense attorney's rep to be there as they processed the crime scene, they interrogated Casey 3 on 1 at Universal Studios, they NEVER investigated ANYONE else, such as the infamous Roy Kronk. They took everyone's word at face value. That's not what detectives do. GOOD detectives question EVERYTHING.  There were no witnesses, no certainty of  "Who, What, When, Where and Why.". We heard testimony to the lying she'd done in past, but nothing  that proved she was a bad mother. There was nothing to prove-beyond a shadow of a doubt that Casey didn't love her daughter. Nothing that suggested she didn't want to be a parent any longer. This was all speculation because the media had to convict someone.

In My Opinion...The Casey Anthony Trial

  I live in Central Florida, and right now the local media is saturated and completely obessed with the Casey Anthony Trial . I'm not one of those people that takes everything at face value. I'm not a chicken eating what the media is feeding me. People tend to forget that the media has to make rankings in order to get viewers to watch and make money to have a job. They blow everything out of proportion and things are often misconstrued and not what they seem. I have been on Facebook, and seen people so enraged, so full of hate for this person they do not know. They see her instead as a baby killing monster. This woman DID NOT admit to murdering her child. She is NOT like Andrea Yates that DROWNED her five children, Julianne McCrery , (also as a matter of coincidence, happens to be from Texas) that killed her child and left him in a rural town in Maine. They have admittedly killed their children. There's been no admission at ANY point in time from Casey Anthony that her daughter died by her hand.

  Did Casey Anthony lie to Law Enforcement? She damn sure did. Did she report her daughter missing? No, she didn't. Why? I'll tell you why- fear. Have you ever found out that your children did something they weren't supposed to, and when you ask them "Why didn't you just tell me?" they will say "I thought I was going to get in trouble." Has your child ever been involved in something they know is wrong, and they didn't tell you about it? When confronted is not the answer often "I was told not to tell anyone?" Think back to when you were 22. Did you not have a similar mentality? Now imagine being this 22 year old girl that has just lost her baby. After any traumatic event in life we are all not in our right frame of mind. We may act different, and as we are all different people, we deal with things in our own ways. Some go to church and pray, some go away for awhile to clear their heads, some lean on family and friends heavily for support. Some lean on drugs and alcohol. So as for the allegations of Casey going out and partying, this was her way of dealing with the situation. Right or wrong, it was her coping mechanism. How do I know this? Because after a traumatic event in my life, I did the exact same thing. I was young, felt there was no one I could trust. I went out every night and put a happy face on with the help of my "friends" and partied 'til the sun came up. Ask any alcoholic why they're in a bar every night. You'll get a similar answer. Casey may have been a "Party Girl" prior to Caylee's death as well, which only solidifies my belief that she was prone to dealing with her problems in just this manner. I know, that if the technology was 12 years ago what it was today, and someone had taken pictures of me at that time, I would have looked much like Casey, and no one would ever think that there was demon tearing me apart at the seams inside. It also wouldn't bode well for me if someone was trying to establish what kind of person I am today based on pictures that were taken at the worst point of my young life.

 Do I believe that Casey's parents knew more than they were letting on? I certainly think George did. I think that he didn't want to see his daughter end up in jail for Endangering the Welfare of a Minor or Manslaughter charges. I say manslaughter because I do believe that this was an accident, not premeditated murder. So the answer from her dad was "Don't tell ANYONE." She went along with this because, as I'm famous for saying- "Fear makes the wolf appear bigger than it is."

 I believe that the State of Florida found that one search for chlorofoam on the Anthony's computer, and built their case around it.  This pic was posted on Ricardo Morales' Myspace, who was at the time the boyfriend of Casey Anthony. Is it possible that's why she researched what chlorofoam was and decided to ditch this psycho in a quick hurry? Are you aware that there are "trace" amounts of chlorofoam already present in carpeting? Are you aware that there are also "trace" amounts of chlorofoam in vehicle exhaust? There are many other sources of chlorofoam that occur in everyday things you are exposed to. Yet the scientist that tested the carpet specimen testified that there were only "trace" amounts of chlorofoam present in the lab sample provided from the trunk of Casey Anthony's car. Hmm..isn't the trunk also very close to the exhaust from the muffler on a vehicle? I find the INTENTIONAL murder of Caylee Anthony being based on this information completely LAUGHABLE and it should have never been allowed in court as the theory, and that's what it is- a THEORY, because their is no clear determination of death by the Cornerer that is based on scientific proof. She is also informed of "cirumstances" around the death. I believe this could also lead to a persuasion, as these were Law Enforcements assumptions based on what they saw when the body was found. Speaking to the duct tape (another laughable issue) since the remains were found in a swampy area, the body decomposed, how would duct tape that was attached to the mouth remain on the skull? The bag was clearly punctured if what the prosecution says is true that her body was eaten by wildlife.
Duct tape is by no means waterproof. When it gets wet, it disintgrates, and will come loose from whatever it was attached to. The tape, could have at one time been around the bag to seal it closed, but I do not believe the theory that her mouth was taped shut for the purpose of restricting Caylee's breathing. I believe that the disintegration of the tape allowed for movement, and that in the movement, it may have loosely attached itself where it was said to be "found on her skull" by investigators.

 Last night I googled images for Caylee Anthony. This is what I found.
Casey and Caylee Anthony Personal Photos

Sure there were pics of Casey partying and Caylee dressed as Princess Leah...but the pics that spoke volumes to me were the more personal ones that show the bond that this mother had with her child.
I am writing this in the perspective of a mom who was also a single mother at 23. I lived with my parents and I know, that if I left their home, and something terrible happened to my daughter because of my neligence and a bad descision, I would have had the fear of God, not only in being put in jail, but also of the disappointment and possibly being disowned by my family. If indeed, Casey Anthony did accidentally contribute to the death of her daughter, there is no need for punishment that's determined by a jury of her peers. She will undoubtedly live in a personal hell that will be greater than a sentence handed down by a judge.

Let me leave you with this: "The act of murder itself was certainly condemned, but hatred is a ‘heart’ sin, and any hateful thought or act is an act of murder in God’s eyes for which justice will be demanded, possibly not in this life but at the judgment." (What does the Bible say about Hate? )

So let me get this straight...

"So you don't have to sell online as a source of regular income?"

No, I don't. I do it because I love it. I have been a Stay at Home Mom for going on 9 years. I'm educated. I have had a successful career. I know how to sort laundry, cook a mean steak, use online banking to pay my bills, and I can change a diaper in under 45 seconds.

But somehow, I missed working. I missed interaction with people that said more than 23 words. So I went online looking for work I could do from home. And there it was...ebay. I had some toys that my kids didn't play with anymore, (what I didn't know at the time was that they were collectible) so I looked them up. I couldn't believe that someone was willing to pay me for my second-hand items, and willing to pay to have it delivered to their house! The first item I sold was a Fisher Price Cassette player. The brown one with a handle and the big buttons on top. I remember it clearly because when I bought it, I thought "No way, I had one of these in my classroom in elementary school!" I was hooked.

The Birth of Kid-Cra-Zee Toys and More...

It took me 2 years to get where I am today. I tried several marketplaces, at one time I had 4 sites I was selling on all at the same time. Then, one day, I got a very useful peice of information. Somewhere online I read "The best thing you can do as a seller is have one site that you sell on, stock a variety and offer the most inventory you can handle, make it customer-friendly. Make your buyers love your little peice of the online world as much as you do." I took this advice to heart. I put down my roots at eCrater, moved all of my inventory, shut all the others down, and I've been working to provide my customers with great selection, quality items, and affordable prices.

I've spent countless days and hours on marketing my site. I've plugged into Twitter, Facebook, Manta, Sellers Networks, and every search engine I can submit to without incurring costs. This is my life's work, second only to raising my children, they will always be my first love. They are also the reason I sell online. We use the money I make for Birthdays, Holidays, Vacations, and at times, for things they need or want that our budget may not allow for.

The End of my ebay era...

I have been thinking about this for awhile. For years, ebay was the only major marketplace to buy items from a private seller in a "secure" online format. Now, for years, other marketplaces have been available, but ebay was the world's "sweetheart" when it came to buying online. They've always come out on top. But starting in 2008, sweeping changes to both the feedback system and several changes to the fee structure have made it impossible for some sellers to co-exist with the "big box" stores that ebay just happens to be favoring in terms of fee discounts (some don't pay any at all). Under the new fee structure, up to and sometimes beyond, 30% of a sale will be absorbed in fees collected by ebay and paypal. For some smaller sellers, this is a deal-breaker. They cannot even afford ebay part-time anymore.
So what does this have to do with me? As an"online selling addict", I can vouch for the above information, because I was maintaining a store on ebay (InMommiesCloset). I was paying a monthly fee, listing fees per item, final value fees, and paypal fees. For the first two years it was managable part-time. I could list about 75 items, and still make a profit. But sales are not guaranteed on every item, and before long, I found myself upside down when the economy took that fateful dive. I was forced to close my ebay store and figure out what to do from there.