To keep or not to keep - Heirlooms?

Over and over again, I meet people that tell me they are saving boxes of items for their children. My first question is "Are you saving it for them, or for YOU?" Get your children involved in this process!

My daughter is 11 and ready to shelf her American girl doll. I asked her when will be the next time she will use it. She's not sure. When she has children? Specifically a girl? I'm thinking that better be at least 15 years away!!!

The idea of passing on heirloom items is overly fantasized. In general, we all have too much stuff that we hold onto that will never be considered an heirloom.

My best advice is to enjoy what you have today and give it away rather than storing it for 20 years in hopes of using it in the future. Give it to a friend or post it on FB. Give it to Goodwill and give someone a job.

What did we do with my daughter's American Girl doll? We postponed that decision one more year. We gave away accessories pictured below to a friend and passed on a smile TODAY!

Amy

American Girl accessories 

You can recycle those tangled lights!

Home Depot announced a recycling program for Christmas lights.

http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2011/11/03/the-home-depot-announces-fourth-annual-eco-options-christmas-light-trade-in-event/

 According to the article, "Beginning November 3rd through 13th, customers can bring in their old working or non-working Christmas light strings to be recycled and receive a coupon for up to $5.00 off the purchase of energy efficient seasonal light-emitting diodes (LED) string lights."

What's in your freezer?

How long has that been in your freezer?

Take a moment to prowl through your freezer with a pad and pen on the counter next to you.  

Start at the top and go to the bottom or left to right. Write down everything in there except what you throw out in this process.  

Tape your freezer list next to your grocery list on the refrigerator.  The next grocery trip will be time to shop and plan meals around what you HAVE and what needs to be used in the freezer.  If you buy something that goes into the freezer be sure and add it to your list.  

Keep in mind, most anything bought from the freezer section is intended to be used within 3 months or less depending on the product.  Anything you freeze yourself, should follow this guideline as well.  Check the expiration dates on packages as you're cleaning out the freezer.  Although bacteria may not kill you, the freezer burn may taste like the box it is in or worse.

~ Gretchen

Tired of Making the Grocery List?

Type up a list to save time

I gave up on the notion a while back that I would have time to sit down and plan all the meals, collect and cut coupons and make an accurate list before heading to the grocery store.  

Instead I keep copies of an excel spreadsheet on the side of my refrigerator that lists most of the groceries I buy, by category and the layout in the store where I usually shop.  It takes into consideration the meals I most often prepare and has a little extra space at the bottom of each category in case I need to write something extra.  

I use a highlighter to mark what I need.  It's fast and I won't miss that bold color at the store like I might with a check mark made with a pencil. 

I update my list document if I seem to be writing in the same thing fairly often.  Although it takes a little time to collect your thoughts in the beginning to make the initial document, it is well worth it in time savings in the future.  

If you need a little help getting started there are quite a few grocery lists on the web that you might be able to try before creating your own.  Some major chain grocery stores provide them on their websites. 

~ Gretchen

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.