Did You Know You Can Return Old Crocs For A Discount On New Ones?

Save some money and save Mother Earth. Win win! The Crocs company has a new program that allows you to return old crocs for a discount on new ones!

It was recently reported in MassLive that the popular shoe maker is offering an “Old Crocs/ New Life” shoe takeback program. Now you can drop off your worn-out, out grown or done-with Crocs to a retail or outlet store. You will be rewarded for returning your old Crocs, in any condition, with a discount on your next pair.

Old with the old and in with the new! This is a really good idea, considering our landfills are already at capacity. In a press release, Deanna Bratter, vice president, Global Head of Sustainability at Crocs, Inc., said the company is committed to environmental change. She went on to communicate how important it is to keep "shoes on feet and out of landfills."

As stated in the press release, Crocs retail and outlet locations will have collection boxes available for your returns. It's an easy peasy exchange, just bring in your old Crocs for a 10% discount. If it's not convenient to return old crocks in store, the company has another option for you. Just go to to crocs.com/oldcrocsnew.html for a no-cost mail-back kit to send in your Crocs.

More good news:

Over the years this brand of footwear has become more and more popular, as the line expanded. The comfortable, lightweight colorful shoes are made from Croslite. The foam footwear first appeared at a boat show in 2002. And their design was inspired by the Dutch clog. But these were strictly made for boaters, originally, according to Footwear News.

Celebrity endorsements have helped catapult the brand to new stratospheres. In recent years, Crocs has teamed up with Luke Combs, Post Malone, Justin Bieber, Bad Bunny, Diplo, Karol G and SZA. The company is also very charitable. In fact, since 2020, they've donated more than 1 million pairs of shoes to healthcare workers all over the world.

Instead of donating your clothing or throwing them away, have you ever thought to consign your children's clothes? Chances are, your baby is a grownup now. So, there's no need to keep those walkers, shoes or baby body carriers anymore. Consign them with one of these local Massachusetts consignment shops!

Consignment of children's clothing and other items benefits both parents and the environment. It offers a smart and sustainable way to manage children's ever-changing needs while also providing opportunities for financial gain and community engagement.

One of the most significant advantages of consigning children's clothing is the opportunity to earn money, or trade items for credit. As children outgrow their clothes and toys quickly, many of these items remain in excellent condition. If you're like my baby, he didn't even wear some of the clothes we bought for him.

Consignment shops provide a place where parents can bring in gently-used clothing, playpens, toys, and other children's items and offer them for sale to other parents or caregivers.

The process of consigning is pretty straightforward. Parents can choose to sell their items directly to the consignment shop, which will then price and display them for other potential buyers. Alternatively, they can opt for consignment, where the shop takes a percentage of the sale once the item is sold. This approach allows parents to have a more active role in setting the prices and managing their inventory.

When the items find a new home and sell, the original owners can earn a portion of the proceeds, often in the form of cash or store credit. This credit can be used to purchase other children's clothing or items available in the store, providing a seamless and cost-effective way to update a child's wardrobe or toy collection.

Trading items for credit is not only economical but also environmentally friendly. By participating in consignment, parents actively contribute to the circular economy, promoting the reuse and recycling of products. Rather than discarding items that are still in excellent condition, they get a second life, reducing waste and minimizing their overall environmental impact.

Danvers Indoor Sports, 150 Andover St, Danvers, MA
This will want to be your place if you live on the North Shore and need items for your baby. They do consignment events twice a year. Once for the spring/summer and once for the fall/winter. Consigners come from all over New England and according to their website, "Our consignors earn 50% of sales and if done right, they can make over $1000 in consignment earnings."
Learn how to become a vendor and when/where to shop at this event by going to their website.

https://www.childrensdropandshop.com/

166 County St, Lakeville, MA
Kids Echo is a boutique but they also have a consignment area where people consign anything from newborn age all the way up to teenage. They have toys, clothes, and baby gear. If you'd like to consign, they don't allow drop-offs. You must schedule an appointment online.

38 Central Square, Bridgewater, MA
Periwinkle's Consignment Store consigns all clothing for all ages, but they do have a baby section. So, this store won't be entirely for children, but you might find some treasures in this consignment store!

Braintree, Norwood, Westborough, Seekonk, Rowley, Amesbury
Children's Orchard is a chain of children's consignment stores. There are multiple locations in every state, but six located in MA. This is one of the few consignment shops where you can bring your clothes in and they will give you cash on the spot. Not a bad deal if you're looking to get rid of your clothes and spend your new cash instantly!

http://www.childrensorchard.com

100 Main St, Gloucester, MA
Fireflies is a thrift shop and a consignment shop. They have all types of clothes and baby items and lots of great deals! I'm not sure if you need an appointment to consign your items, but you can always give them a call to find out at 978-283-1379

389 W Center St, West Bridgewater, MA
Keeping the Pace With Multiple Miracles is more of a donation center, rather than a consignment shop. But someone suggested that I add it to this list and after some research I am SO glad I'm adding it. Not only can you donate your unwanted baby clothes and items, but they also have a "Baby Cafe" where mothers can go and meet other mothers and their babies while sipping on a cup of coffee. They also offer breastfeeding support groups. They meet Tuesday mornings at 8:30am at the Cafe. Their Resale Boutique is open to the public Monday- Saturday 10am-4pm.

https://keepingpace.org/

708 Washington St, Pembroke, MA
There will be 300 local moms consigning at their "All The Seasons" event in Pembroke from Aug 16-20th at 708 Washington St. This is free admission if you want to shop. If you want to be a consigner, you can apply to be one. There's a $20 registration fee and some rules to follow, but you could make some big bucks if you have lots to sell. They also do a fall event in Dedham. All info can be found on their website.

https://www.theretheygrowagain.com/index.htm

46 Columbia Rd # 5A, Pembroke, MA 02359
They have sports equipment, clothes, baby items. You name it, they have it. They don't have a functional website, but feel free to call them and ask any questions you have about cosigning with them at 781-829-9970 or visit their Facebook page.

443 Common St, Belmont, MA
They have almost 10,000 followers on their Facebook page and a lot of great reviews. One review from Dawn wrote, "They accept a good variety of clothing and the staff are always friendly."

https://country1025.com/listicle/heres-8-of-the-greatest-thrift-shops-ever-to-hit-massachusetts/

Five country music couples we adore: when making this list, we have to begin with the fact that country music sings so much about love. We have country couples we all love to watch. They sing about their love and bring their life into the music they share with fans.

George Jones and Tammy Wynette were country music royalty. They sang together in the late 1960s and 1970s, and their marriage was one all fans could talk about. Then, their divorce in the 1970s really gave country fans something to talk about.

No one talks about it much anymore because the two have gone on to marry others, but when Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert got married, it was big news and fun for country fans. A few years later, their divorce shocked everyone, but during their marriage, they were country royalty we admired; now, we just adore them separately and watch their happiness with other spouses on social media.

Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert at the 2014 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.
Christopher Polk/ Getty Images 

Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood are also true country royalty. Trisha told me about their relationship and how it works so well. The couple has been married for 18 years. She told me it isn't always just roses, "Well, when people go, 'Marriage goals' and 'Relationship goals,' I want to go, 'You know, have your own goals; we're regular people who don't always get along.'"

Yearwood adds, "If people see that we make each other the priority and we really respect and love each other, then I think if people take that from our marriage, then great."

Garth gushed as he looked at Trisha, standing about five feet away and out of earshot, "I think her and anybody's a great combo, I really do. So, I just feel lucky to be there with her."

He continued, "What I love about it is what I try to teach my girls: be yourself, be independent, but also be as strong as you are. Some of the most strength you're gonna have to show is the ability to bend. The ability to flex, the ability to take that pause and think, 'What is this guy really saying,' instead of just jumping, and we do that to each other. So, I think the respect is there."

Brooks told me the relationship was years in the making, "One of the big things was, cause we've known each other since '87, we were friends for thirteen years before we even dated. We toured together, which means you're way too comfortable with each other, so we told ourselves s--- on each other that no married couple would ever say. So, we know everything about each other."

He concluded, "With that, I think you just realize, walls and all, that they're gonna love you, and that's very sweet and hard for me to accept."

Garth and Trisha are performing at the Grammys in 2022.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images 

These two lovebirds are also absolutely country music royalty. The couple also inspires others with their 27-year-old marriage. In the early 2000s, Tim and Faith were all anyone was talking about. The couple even got their own Barbie dolls, which Brad Paisley made fun of later in their career on a CMA Awards show.

Their duets and music videos to go along with them were epic. Their song "It's Your Love" in 1997 became the first duet by a married couple to top the country chart. No such single would top the chart again until almost 26 years later, when Kane and Katelyn Brown's "Thank God" topped the chart in February 2023.

Other country music couples may come and go, but these two will always remain the ones people think of when country music couples are ever mentioned.

Kane and Katelyn scored a huge hit with "Thank God," and ever since, the couple has become who everyone wants to see arm in arm on a red carpet. The "Thank God" music video was filmed in Hawaii and named the CMT Video of the Year in 2023.

When the couple won the award, an emotional Katelyn told the CMT and TV crowd, standing next to her husband Kane, "This is all so new to me, and when we recorded this song a year ago, I never, ever in my life would think that this would ever happen." She then thanked her "amazing husband," saying how special it was that the couple could share this together.

Blake and Gwen became country music royalty when they started recording hit song duets like "Happy Anywhere" and "Nobody But You." Gwen joined Blake for a performance on the Grand Ole Opry and their royal status in country music was complete.

In an interview with People, Gwen said of her husband, "He's changed my life. When I started dating Blake, that's when I felt home, like, 'Oh, this is where I'm supposed to be, with this guy."

Blake often gushes about Gwen. He told People in 2021, "To me, she's my best friend and everything that I need and lean on."

Keith and Nicole are among the most famous couples in the world. The Oscar-winning Nicole often appears on the country music award show Red Carpets. Keith also joins his wife at movie premieres and red carpets, including the Academy Awards and many other acting awards shows.

They often post about each other and share love moments on social media when one of them has a birthday or on Valentine's Day.

In November, after the CMA Awards, Nicole posted photos of him and her hubby on her Instagram; she wrote, "Thank you, # CMA's, for a great night of country music celebration."

In 2017, when Urban released the song, The Fighter," the couple sang it together in their car. The YouTube video has ten millions views.

These guys are precious together. Nicole is always standing beside her Entertainer of the Year-winning man on red carpets and at award shows, cheering him on. Nicole gives little family inside moments and often answers fan questions online, giving us a look inside this country music two-bedroom home.

Luke and Nicole now have two baby boys at home, and Nicole often joins her husband on the tour bus with the family as he travels to sold-out stadium shows all over the country.

We have a feeling we will see a lot more red carpet moments from this couple as Luke continues to dominate country music.