Being my frugal self, there’s a part of me that hates throwing away Mylar balloons after a party.  They sadly float around the room, each day hovering lower and lower, until finally they’re just too sad and flimsy to tolerate and I throw them away. 

My Dad celebrated his birthday this month, and of course I fussed over the perfect gift and more importantly the perfect card.  My Mother found her perfect card for Dad.  She gave it to him this year, last year and probably the year before that.  I couldn’t believe what she was saying.  After Dad opens his card, she places it in a special place until next year when she gives it to him again.  Mother doesn’t see it as odd, why repeat the process of finding and spending money on a card when there is a card at home that says everything she wants to say.  Do you remember the cards you received a year ago?  That’s just what I thought!

It wasn’t too long ago that I would have never shared my age with anyone.  I vowed to be 29 until I turned 50 and then I would remain 39 years old forever.  A woman never divulges her age!   Really–what are we trying to hide that the lines on our faces don’t already tell.

Geri’s birthday was this week. Most of us celebrate with the usual festive party of balloons, cake, gifts, and singing. And we’re no different; we plan on presents, food, and fun (but no singing) for Geri’s celebration.

I spend a big part of the month of January getting organized for the year ahead. It may take a little time upfront, but then the rest of the year is less complicated with trying to remember what I forgot! I am big on lists or what I like to call logs. One of my favorites is my Special Occasion Gift Log. This simple log with columns is a perfect tool to tell us who, when and what!