Give It or Take It Party Table

Our family doesn't give presents at Christmas since we do the "Give It or Take It" Party Table.

Our family has grown, and many incomes are fixed or stretched thinly. 

Progressively, as the families grew, the gift-giving was as follows.

A. The adults give everyone a gift. 

B. All the children received gifts from the adults, and the adults did name drawings. 

C. All the children received gifts, and the adults did "Dirty Santa." 

D. As the children grew into their late teens, they joined the adults' Dirty Santa gifting.

E. The children were now young adults with either educational goals or were creating small families; therefore, we started playing the Wright Family Game with all who wanted to join in bringing a small, wrapped, unbreakable Dollar Tree type of item and no other gifts.

F. Coinciding with the Wright Family Game tradition, I started the Take It Table with new or new-looking Christmas decorations one year.  Then, there were a couple of years with tables featuring cookbooks or crafting books.

G. No gifts, including retiring the Wright Family Game. After a family discussion, we just gathered for the meal and enjoyed each other's company. This situation lasted a few years.

H. Fast forward to the last few years. While hubby and I still hosted the party, the meal evolved to a menued potluck meal, and a couple of us revived the Take It Table to include gently used items or new items we were editing from our homes.

I. Other family members asked to join the tradition, which has morphed into Take It or Leave It Table(s.) Family members bring new or gently used items they wish to edit from their homes. Any items that no one chooses will be boxed and donated to a local charity. 

Family members can bring as many or few of the things they want to leave their homes or even nothing. Guests and family members can take home as few, many, or none of the items on the table; the items vary from office, kitchen, or bathroom supplies to books, small furniture pieces, linens, toys, and decor.

J. We expanded the Take It or Leave It Table idea to a summer event last year.

K. We plan a Spring Pizza Party with Take It or Leave It tables this year.

In conclusion, gift-giving traditions need to evolve with familial desires and needs. I've given a synopsis of our family dynamics and hope you can find inspiration for your families.

Depending on your family or friends interactions, you could opt for different Take It or Leave It tables, such as themed gatherings that target specific themes. Games, barbeque supplies, kitchen pots and pans, baking items, cookie cutters, yard tools, DIY books and supplies, crafting supplies, etc.

Merry Christmas 2024

 I've been busy this year, and I hope you have too!

Prior posts have suggestions on creating your forever home and making you can make your home better at working for you and your loved ones.

It's easy to put off things until "tomorrow." However, tomorrow might never get here, or it will be delayed. Work, family, friends, health, and funds are some off-putting excuses for not getting things done.

Embrace the "One-Minute Rule." Set aside fifteen-minute action cycles a few times daily to accomplish your tasks.

Do the "one-minute" things immediately. This will give those fifteen-minute action cycles measurable results quickly.

Immediately putting away everyday items (in the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and living room) allows for sweeping/vacuuming, dusting/wiping down, and additional cleaning in the fifteen-minute cycles.

Do I have everything together? No, of course not. However, I no longer cringe if someone comes to visit unexpectedly.

Merry Christmas! Enjoy the season with your family and friends. You've got this!

Is it just me?

Can you relate to any of the following issues?

I've been tired lately, so I need to get more sleep

I stay up late because I cannot sleep; therefore, I take naps as necessary.

My concentration is shot; thus, a list of tasks is necessary.

My multitasking efforts are shot, so I need a short list of three daily things to do.

I need to go on a diet; all my doctors say so.

I need to get more exercise; see the preceding comment.

I want to spend more time with my family, friends, and pets.

My family and friends don't complain; however, my pets have me well-trained and will complain.

I need to complete some craft and home improvement projects.

I must stay off the internet and return to writing or doing other tasks.

Solution: I must make some Fall/Winter resolutions to keep my home functioning well and then follow through on them.

It has been awhile

 I've had some challenging days, as many of you have.

I've learned to adapt and take things slower as physical challenges have presented themselves.

Here, not in any particular order, are ways I have addressed some challenges.

I use a two-way garden bench for tasks in the kitchen and bathroom. The cushion on the bottom and the legs provide leverage when getting up from the floor or cleaning those pesky corner areas the mop and broom don't clean.

I have two induction burners. I love that I can set timers, and the burners will shut off as programmed.

I have a shelf-type air fryer that can bake and reheat foods. It requires less electricity and cuts heat gain in the summer.

I have a wall-mounted can opener and don't have to chase it down to use it.

I have the cooking utensils, which are the most easily accessible under the hood and over the stove area.

I have a seat, grab bars, and a shower head on a hose in the walk-in shower. Before I take a shower, I clean the shower curtains and floor with a spray solution of 50/50 white vinegar and water using a plastic scrubber.

I have a lovely ladder that has two grab rails. I use it in the kitchen and my den.

Our floors are wood or vinyl-covered, allowing easier movement using mobility aids.

We've added a covered deck with a wheelchair ramp in the kitchen, creating a barrier-free entry.

I use a small garden cart to bring the groceries from the car up the ramp into the kitchen.

All my reusable grocery bags are insulated.

I bought a dog hammock, harness, and leashes to use when traveling with our dog.

I have an "X" bottom cutter/masher that helps break up meat and frozen foods.

I found a short "chef" knife that works well when cutting smaller amounts of produce. It is easier to handle with small hands.

My beverage cups have lids I 

I order water when eating out and wear washable clothes. Water will air dry, won't stain, and is not sticky if you wind up wearing it.

I wear red shirts for pizza and spaghetti meals. The original Dawn is great for stains--use cold water and air-dry items.

Flat-filled freezer bags' food will thaw more quickly than stuffed bags.

I clean the fridge the night before garbage pickup and use smaller covered trash cans to increase taking out the garbage and reduce smells.

I have a hook for my keys and purse in a designated place.

The above things are what come immediately to mind. What are adaptations do you use?

I'm Retired, Now What

 I'm Retired, Now What

[I like to create lists, so here's another one. I apologize for my absence lately.]

Challenges:

- Tasks take longer as we age

- Health issues arise, such as heart and mobility issues or diet restrictions

- Longer recovery from physical activity

- Balancing activities with energy levels by restructuring the time of day we do things

or the daily commitments we make

- Living on a fixed income

- Increased cost of necessities Benefits:

- More time at home

- Freedom to pursue hobbies such as writing on blogs, crafting, gardening, motorcycling, traveling

- Helping others such as charities or DIY projects, including decluttering or home improvements

- Quality time with spouse

- Enjoying the company of pets

Observations:

- Spouse prefers home-cooked meals

- Increased communication with relatives by phone or computer

- A slower pace of life

- Reduced TV time

- More interaction with family and friends at each other's homes Conclusion: Although our budget is tighter, we cherish our enhanced connections with loved ones. We manage our resources to live fully in the present. With the gift of time, we savor life with our dear ones. Therefore, we choose to relish the present moment.

Keeping Clutter in Check

 Before making any purchase, visualize where it will be stored or displayed.

Have trash cans in each room and use them.

Always leave the kitchen clean.

Reduce “drop zones.”

Reduce clothing and linens to fit existing drawers and closets when they are clean.

Rotate perishables.

Take out garbage and clean out fridge weekly.

Install towel racks and use them.

Reduce clothing to core components.

Don’t procrastinate cleaning or putting things away.

Stop incoming subscriptions, and return junk mail to the sender.

Create memories instead of buying things.

Replace shopping habits with health-friendly alternatives.

Beginner's decluttering tips

 

How could a beginner declutter their home efficiently while still retaining the necessary belongings they need or want to keep around?

Get some paper and a pen or pencil.

Write the room’s name on top of an individual page.

Write the purpose of each room down.

Without looking, write down up to five things you want to keep in each room—anything else is fair game for removal.

Take a before picture of each room.

Working top to bottom and left to right, go through each room, trash the trash, relocate out-of-place items, and place items you no longer want or need in a donation box.

For future maintenance, place a trash can in each room and use it.

Remove and relocate items to their proper location immediately.

Group like items together and determine a maximum amount of that item. Donate the excess items.

Shop your closet—get rid of torn, tired, stained ill-fitting garments. Have a donation box or hamper in the bedroom. When you try something on that doesn’t fit correctly or doesn’t fit your lifestyle into the donation bin, it goes. Ask yourself if you would purchase a particular item again. Buy clothing that is forgiving of a few pounds either way. You don’t need to maintain two or three clothing sizes.

When all your clothing and linens are clean, they should fit into your closet, dresser, and storage areas.

Always trash out-of-date items for your safety—bathroom items, food, meds (return to local pharmacy), personal products such as lotions, makeup, sunscreen, etc.