Is that a keepsake? Part 2: Do you like it?

What items do you treasure? A child's treasured keepsake may be a game-winning baseball. Adults have a variety of collections that they treasure.

Antique Camera. Do you like it?

What happens when someone gives you a collection or an item that you do not treasure? Do you like it? You have some choices:

1. Store it. Do nothing and store it in the garage, attic, or closet.  
2. Honor it in your home by display. Think of incorporating items into your home decor. There are many options for framing items. 
3. Honor it in your home by use. Choose a portion of the collection if you are not fond of the whole. If your grandma gave you an entire set of dishes you love, use them! Or, pick out the serving pieces and use them!
4. Give it away. Give to Goodwill and you give someone a job. Give to a family member that you know would enjoy it for no reason, Christmas or a birthday. 
5. Sell it - eBay, Craigslist, yard sales, antique dealers, etc.  

Is that a keepsake? Part 1: How old is your child?

What is a keepsake? By definition it is something kept or given to be kept as a memento.

In the homes of our clients, Gretchen and I find boxes of keepsakes. Our clients say, "I'm keeping this for my daughter or son." Our next question is, "How old is your daughter or son?"

Wondering what we would advise you to do? Answer these 3 questions:

1. How long will the child continue to live in my house?

2. At what age will I expect to give the keepsakes to the child?

3. Who is making the decision about the keepsakes?

First of all, you must consider space. If you are collecting items at a rate of 1 box per year, you could have 18 boxes of keepsakes before the child departs for college. We suggest that you limit the space for items to the child's room.

Second, consider a realistic time for passing keepsakes along. Most children will be in their mid to late 20s before they settle in a place and are able receive, use, store or honor keepsakes. 

Lastly, who decides what goes into the box? If you are making the decisions, then most likely they are your keepsakes. Your keepsakes should be honored or stored in your space. Involve your children in the decision-making process of what to keep. If children do prize the items stored, they will not have a connection and may not want them after all. 

~Amy 

Oh no! That tabletop is scratched!

Recycle Furniture. 

Try this with a table your grandmother gave you or you find at a consignment shop.

My mother gave me a nice mahogany table, but it needs to be refinished.  I decided to cover the table with oil cloth.  I cut it slightly larger than the table and stretched it under the edge.  This is a two man job.  I attached the oil cloth using a staple gun.  

When the time is right to refinish the table I can simply remove the staples by prying them loose with a flat head screw driver.  For now this wipe clean oil cloth surface is perfect for meal time, craft projects, and homework. 

~ Gretchen

Gifts of Experience

Have trouble purchasing gifts for someone that has everything? No more space in your home to collect another thing? Try gifts of experience.

Give or ask for certificates for lessons to learn pottery, dance, flying, cooking, or an instrument. Give tickets to the theater, a dinner cruise, wine tasting, concerts or train rides. Ask for or a membership to a bulk store, zoo or a museum. Don't forget spa certificates and other traditional gift certificates.

Xperience Days has many more unique ideas. Your creativity and price tags are the only limits!

~ Amy

Looking for space in your cabinet? Try nesting glasses.

How do your dishes stack up?

Cabinet space is at a premium at my house. Instead of taking on a major remodel or trying to rearrange what I have over and over again, I choose to shop smart.

Knowing that I have limited space, I only purchase glasses that stack or nest. This shopping rule applies to bowls and other items too. If I have a need in my kitchen - utensil, pots, pans, dishes, I do not purchase on an impulse. I make note of the space it needs to occupy and incorporate this in my decision making.

~Amy

Don't Sleep On It

Who's shoes are these?

Play the "pick up" game.  

Picking up before bed should not be an opportunity for procrastination. 

Before you get ready for bed take a look around, put dirty dishes in the dishwasher, straighten up the sofa pillows, put away shoes and items from daily living left on the floor.  

Get the family to do their part.  In the morning, children (and their parents) will be happier and spend less time looking to find their items for school or the work day.  Early in the day will seem much brighter with a cleaner house!

~ Gretchen

What's Coming in Your Door?

If that is coming in, what's going out?

When you bring something in, take something out -  monitor your drawer, in your closets, in your files, your mail, your bookshelf, your child's schoolwork...the list is endless.


If you buy three new pairs of socks, get rid of three or even four old pairs.  Once you develop this habit, you will be amazed at how it cuts the clutter in your life, and not just paper, toys, and clothing.  Use this strategy to break bad habits, improve your nutrition, and even develop healthier relationships.


~ Gretchen

How Tos for your To Dos

What's on your list?

Keep your "to do" list ON your calendar, not "in" your calendar but "on" each individual day.  As you go through daily tasks and appointments you stay on task and on deadline by designating a scheduled amount of time to complete each task.  This habit forces you to evaluate how long a task actually takes and whether you need to delegate or edit your "to do" list.  For instance, you may discover that your time is worth too much to drop off and pick up the cleaning and that is well worth the gratuity to have it delivered.

How about a book swap?

Notebook 

Recently, I hosted my book club.  We often trade books when we meet once a month.  This time was no exception.  I offered my entire library, from which club members could borrow.  I asked them to write their name and the title of the book in a notebook which I will keep in the book shelves in case I need to remember who has what.  My library is becoming more and more digitized as there is both a Kindle and an iPad in my family, but I still love the feel of books.  I cannot really justify keeping so many if I don't share. 

If I get another Lands End catalog, I'll just...

Give your mailbox a makeover and reclaim space on your kitchen counter!

Check out dmachoice.org.

Register for a free account and receive access to contact information for magazines, catalogs and direct mailing services at your fingertips.

Mail order shopping is a greener option than filling up your car with a tank of gas and driving long distances to the mall to window shop. This website gives many options and it is nice to see that you can register deceased or very ill members in your care to be removed from direct mailing lists. This can be a difficult task to complete.

Holidays are right around the corner and our mailboxes begin to bulge, stop that junk mail from junking up your counter!