Community Chat

[~kaIypso~]

On 11/14/2014 NoelSeven said:

On 11/14/2014 ~kaIypso~ said:

On 11/14/2014 NoelSeven said:

I keep them. It makes me happy to look at them and remember good things about the past.

You can also rotate using them. Use one of your stuffed animals for a decorative holiday scene. Maybe put out one of the bears during holiday time, on a table top or bookshelf, and put a couple of your favorite Christmas or Chanukah ornaments next to the bear, and maybe a flameless candle. Sounds nice to me

Awesome idea.

Thank you My daughter and I are big on decorating for every holiday or event.

Love decorating for holidays.., Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas.

[NoelSeven]

On 11/14/2014 ~kaIypso~ said:

On 11/14/2014 NoelSeven said:

On 11/14/2014 ~kaIypso~ said:

On 11/14/2014 NoelSeven said:

I keep them. It makes me happy to look at them and remember good things about the past.

You can also rotate using them. Use one of your stuffed animals for a decorative holiday scene. Maybe put out one of the bears during holiday time, on a table top or bookshelf, and put a couple of your favorite Christmas or Chanukah ornaments next to the bear, and maybe a flameless candle. Sounds nice to me

Awesome idea.

Thank you My daughter and I are big on decorating for every holiday or event.

Love decorating for holidays.., Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas.

We did Dia de los Muertos this year for the first time. DD went to a specialty store in the Mission and bought beautiful handmade flowers typically used for the day, and a banner of lacey cut-out tissue. I made Mexican food and served tequila!

You might want to consider that for next year, too

It's so much fun, I appreciate knowing how much you like decorating, too.

[~kaIypso~]

On 11/14/2014 NoelSeven said:

On 11/14/2014 ~kaIypso~ said:

On 11/14/2014 NoelSeven said:

On 11/14/2014 ~kaIypso~ said:

On 11/14/2014 NoelSeven said:

I keep them. It makes me happy to look at them and remember good things about the past.

You can also rotate using them. Use one of your stuffed animals for a decorative holiday scene. Maybe put out one of the bears during holiday time, on a table top or bookshelf, and put a couple of your favorite Christmas or Chanukah ornaments next to the bear, and maybe a flameless candle. Sounds nice to me

Awesome idea.

Thank you My daughter and I are big on decorating for every holiday or event.

Love decorating for holidays.., Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas.

We did Dia de los Muertos this year for the first time. DD went to a specialty store in the Mission and bought beautiful handmade flowers typically used for the day, and a banner of lacey cut-out tissue. I made Mexican food and served tequila!

You might want to consider that for next year, too

It's so much fun, I appreciate knowing how much you like decorating, too.

It sounds like you both had a blast. I really like that idea for next Halloween. Thanks

[viva923]

I give them to my church for the nursery or goodwill, I have been on a clean binge as of late, I can't keep anymore stuff, I am up to rafters of "stuff".

I am slowly getting junk cleaned out of the house. tomorrow is my hope chest. I have a few things I want to keep, some will have to go to good will.

[Ms X]

I think you'll regret it if you donate them. You should keep them for their sentimental value. The recipient if you donated them wouldn't be able to appreciate them the way you do!

[Mominohio]

In our area, thrift stores like Goodwill, Salvation Army and others do accept clean stuffed animals. And there is a way to sanitize them. Some places actually wash them, but most of the places I know of use a sterilization spray that kills all bugs and larvae, and here it is mandated by state law to do so.

As far as whether or not to get rid of them, I can only offer up what I am currently doing. If I have a number of things that are alike and sentimental (like a number of stuffed animals, too many doilies that aunt Grace knitted, 16 pieces of grandma's Fenton) and I'm feeling like I have too much stuff, I set everything in the grouping out on the bed in the spare room. I know I want to weed the quantity down some, but want the memories. Usually there is at least one or two things right off the bat that I know I can live without, because I don't like the color, or the size or what ever. Those go out right away. If it gets to the point where the narrowing gets hard, I let the things sit for a couple of days, going in and looking at them several times each day, and try to get a grip on which ones mean the most, or which ones I like the most. I set myself a certain number of days by which the decision has to be made, and just do it. While I'm pondering, I try to think if I know anyone who would like any of the items, or if I can repurpose any of the items (can grandma's crochet rugs be used for the dog bed?). The bottom line is that if I've set my mind to downsizing the quantity of something, I just give myself a little time, and do it.

It has helped me to come to the realization that to remember someone I only need a small sampling of their things, not everything they ever had or made or gave me. I pick the few most treasured things from a collection, and let the rest go, whether I donate it, sell it, or find it a new home with other family members.

Best of luck in deciding how to handle things.

[sylviahomeatlast]

it was difficult for me to part with them and boatloads of dinosaurs-----I gave them to the original owner and kept 2 big Dino's. I have a sort of dressing room where I keep things that make me happy. The original and his wife love to have the bears

[Kachina624]

On 11/14/2014 scotttie said:

I'm not sure if facilities will accept stuffed toys? Hospitals don't.

Police departments give officers stuffed toys for traumatized children. Perhaps they'd like to have them?

[dex]

I bought a really expensive purse and thought it was too big for me on arrival but kept it cause it was nice and hoped I would use it...stupid huh..after awhile it started to make me feel bad about the money I wasted so I gave it to a young single mom at the coffee stand I go to.She adores it and says that she gets so many compliments ..this hS made me so happy and now I feel great about my purchase.Maybe if you donate those bears ,you will feel happy too.

[pattypeep]

Keep them. Some day, they will speak to you and then you will know. I will be 70 shortly and still have a dog that has a music box in him (from 1955), a ginny doll from the same year, a dolly from 1951, and a ceramic piggy bank my dad made me around 1953 (still has money in it). I can't bear to part with these things, but the day may come ~ or not.