Scrap Metal

"Lose It!"
* Several years ago, my mother-in-law came for a visit and brought a pan of lasagna. She left behind a metal rectangular thing with holes in it that I assumed was part of some kind of pan. I put it on top of our toaster oven, and it has lived there ever since. When she visits, I always mean to ask her if she needs it. I always forget. I just asked her now if she needs that piece of metal. The short answer is "no" and that she had not even used it for the lasagna, but rather to help support the pan when it traveled to Chicago. So anyway, soon it will be leaning against our garbage cans in the alley where the men who drive the scrap trucks will surely nab it.

My mother-in-law thought the scrap metal was sort of a lame "lose it!" so suggested that I also lose the old fry daddy that she bequested to us a few years ago. Homemade donuts would be divine but also dangerous so consider it lost.

Oh thank heaven?

Holiday Edition

"Use It!"
* read two issues of People and one of InStyle, borrowed from the community library in my in-laws' condo complex -- there are some Reader's Digests as well, but I don't think I'll need to go there unless I finish all the novels I packed

"Lose It!"
* 7-11 habit. Last year in Florida, my pregnant belly and I went to 7-11 for a Slurpee and other impulse buys every single day. I'm not saying I won't cave and get a Slurpee this week (I am on vacation after all), but I know that the new and improved MEP of 2009 will likely spend less than $10 at 7-11 this trip.

Flip Flopper

I'm not near my closet as I write this, but I know there are at least two pair of high, wedge-type sandals -- one black and one brown. They live in the basement closet and have for at least three years now. I keep them there because I don't need to access them. I don't need to access them because I never choose to wear them. I never choose to wear them because they are too high, great shoes for helping one turn an ankle. I especially don't want to turn an ankle while walking with Little Bit in my arms. So, why am I keeping them? I'm not. Welcome to the "lose it!" pile, wedgies.

"Bin" there.

The boys and I were hanging out in the basement yesterday, you know, chilling on the "ferris wheel."** I saw a half full clear, lidless bin in a closet and set to losing.

"Lose It!"
* scrapbooking scraps -- bunch of scrapbooking paper with random shapes cut out. Yes, I did toss some full sheets as well and, yes, I suppose I could have cut more shapes from these scraps and glued them in a collage on a shoe box that could then store more junk**, but instead, I just scrapped them.

* deck of Peanuts playing cards -- may have had 52 cards, but with Bub around, it was better just to toss them before he found them and, well, tossed them.

* a playbill from the musical Winesburg, Ohio -- was a great show, and I know I kept the playbill for the same reasons I have saved others: the idea that I might someday frame and display them. But really, I won't ever do that so I am now vowed to toss the rest of the playbills when I across them, except for a couple that remind me of special times and people (Les Miserables and Avenue Q).

* a bunch of other, little stuff that I don't need and won't miss


What are you losing and using these days? Please share.


**In the world of Bub, the guest bed is a "ferris wheel."
***I used to do shit like this before I had kids -- decorate shoeboxes with scraps of paper. I'm sure to unearth one soon and will share a pic.

The Elephant in the Room

I am proud to report that all of the "Lose It!" items since this blog's inception have finally left the house. Since I began, all the donation items have been piling up in front of the basement crawl space. The past two weeks, hubby had taken to asking about their final destination fairly frequently. I think he fully expected the pile to remain until we could no longer access the basement. But no, MEP is on fire this year. I loaded the car on Monday, drove around all week with a huge box sitting shotgun, and this afternoon finally put my hazard lights on in a bus lane so I could drop off the stuff (5 bags of clothes, 1 bag of shoes, 1 box of home decor items, and an artificial Christmas wreath) at The Brown Elephant. Feels good to clear some space. I look forward to starting a new pile soon.

In the spirit of full disclosure, all my giveaway books are still in a big box in the guest room as I try to decide whether (and where) to donate them or take them to Half Price books where I might earn as much as $4.00 (based on past experience).

Bubbing Artist

Here is a photo offering a glimpse of Bub's Valentine handiwork from yesterday's "Use It!". He started out strong with the glitter paint ("Pink my favorite color"), but was less than enthusiastic about the stickers. The crayon period was a chaotic time for him. As the card-making continued, his aesthetic became more minimalist and even a bit brooding (see black crayon card).

That's all I've got for today. Hubby's flight is delayed after two nights away from home, and it is a miracle I have not lost my mind yet.

Sealed With a Kiss

"Use It!"
* card-making supplies, paint, and crayons we already had in the house to produce some Bub-designed Valentine's cards (photos to come tomorrow when he can show them off to the Mac PhotoBooth himself) for grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles. Here's hoping I can get them addressed and in the mail on time.

* Sesame Street valentines purchased two years ago with the good intention of sending them out from Bub -- his classmates will be receiving them on Thursday at their party. I was tempted to take him to CVS to pick out his own Valentines, but I thought, "He has years to pick out his own Valentines. Use the ones you already have."