Melissa Hereford

We asked Marin Kids & Maternity Consignment's Melissa Hereford to tell us a little about the back-to-school bargains that can be found at their retail store on West Francisco Boulevard in San Rafael. They try to live up their motto, "Saving the planet, one outfit at a time" by offering a great selection of gently used (or "new-to-you") children's apparel and more, much of it perfect for back-to-school! Marin Kids & Maternity Consignment is also a great place to sell your old children's clothing and maternity wear. They're located at 814 Francisco Boulevard West and open Wednesday–Sunday, 10 am–6 pm. Visit them online at www.marinkidsconsignment.com.

Owned and operated by Marin moms, Marin Kids & Maternity Consignment in San Rafael can be a great, budget-friendly resource for gearing up for back to school. The store has clean, well-maintained play areas for your kids, so shopping does not have to be so stressful with kids in tow. To us, this means you don't have to feel the pressure to buy the entire fall and winter wardrobe in one shopping trip. You can stop by as the seasons change to see what's new—we add to our racks every day as new items come in. Watch as winter clothing appears on the racks and stock up for the hot months ahead with summer gear on sale.

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In this special "Earth Week" guest post, Melissa Hereford, Marin mompreneur and owner of Marin Kids and Maternity Consignment in San Rafael, offers a few reasons why buying gently used items (and selling or donating yours) is good not only for the wallet but for the environment, too.

Her motto is "Saving the earth, one outfit at a time," and she takes the idea seriously!

As we approach another Earth Day, we find ourselves focusing more and more on the recycling movement with our children, the future of the planet, and the limited space in our landfills in mind! Buying gently worn and gently used items is not only about saving money. That is a wonderful aspect of the practice, but it seems to be ever more important to reduce all the waste inherent in both manufacturing and retail. For example, when you buy gently used items, you: