I always bring more than I take ...

Holy Cow!! Talk about Spring Cleaning!! This is what I am taking to the next swap - We just had one 6 weeks ago, and I have absolutely NO PROBLEM getting rid of all this stuff - about 1/3 of it is from previous swaps, the little farm house (lola wants to keep that - but it's time to pass it on & she just got a weeble wobble house from the consignment store) - and the "hyperdash" game were big hits - time to pass those on. Lots of clothes, puzzles, books, shoes, dolls, baby tunnel play mat thing! Again, you could never swap this much stuff online - the shipping would cost too much, it wouldn't make sense. Swap sites like Thredup are great for swapping clothes once in awhile - and super if you only have one kid - but once you pay the fee and pay for shipping ($15+ per box) it can be cost prohibitive. It's a fun and addictive site for in between swap events though. Also - I will re-use the box/garbage bags to pack up the leftover items for donation after the swap.
I often take this much stuff - (as do many people) which raises the question - should you take as much as you bring?? My answer? I don't WANT that much stuff back - I want to get rid of that stuff and maybe take a bag home - maybe 2 (rarely 2- and that's because I have 3 kids.)
So sometimes the question comes up - when people are 'shopping' how much is too much?? I guess it's all relative, but I would expect people to not take as much as they bring, I would anticipate some of your items being donated to charity. peace. love. swap is an environmental and philanthropic event first and foremost... our mission statement is (and has been from day one):

to keep gently used baby, kid and maternity items out of landfills, and to donate to local charities, by producing fun and affordable family friendly swaps on a regular basis. 

It has never been our mission (or my personal vision) to have people load up on as many items as they possibly can.  I created this event so that moms could get rid of their unwanted things that they were going to take to a thrift store or consignment store - but instead of just donating them or getting a less than stellar credit, they could exchange them/recycle them, meet other moms, let their kids play, etc.. I still shop at consignment stores, and donate and shop at thrift stores - but the swaps are a way to kind of 'complete' that green lifestyle/way of shopping if you will. My personal vision is for people to ONLY take what they are going to use for the next few months - only what they truly need perhaps until the next swap, and then make sure it is clean, and then bring it back - so obviously you wouldn't need bags of clothes and other stuff- my kid's don't wear that much!! Did you know (I read somewhere) we only wear 20% wardrobe 80% of the time? - So most of the stuff we have (and our kid's have) we don't even probably wear.

Anyway, as a sort guide to what is too much?? because no one ever seems to think they are taking too much, We will start posting some pictures - good and bad - don't worry, I won't post anyones faces - A sort of ode to Glamour magazine's "Do's and Don'ts"  - There will be lot's of Do's photos posted - as most people I see - do get the concept of peace. love. swap.  --- hellooooooo.. doesn't the name say it all???? We will post some photos soon here and on Facebook - they will be sort of humourous - so stay tuned - but they will also answer that question - am I taking too much????

Until then,
happy swapping~
meg