The HoarderRehab Blog: The Destiny of Things: The Lunar New Year of the Fire Monkey: The Destiny of Things, Story 337

The Lunar New Year of the Fire Monkey: The Destiny of Things, Story 337

What did an Etsy buyer do with her 100 monkeys?

50 or 100 monkey drink or cake toppers, available here

photo via Hoarder Rehab

Here is the fun email just in time for The Lunar New Year!

Hi Kennedy,

I just got a chance to read your note and open your very fun goody/hoarder package.

I’ve attached a picture of what I’m doing with the Cocktail Monkeys.

For about 25 years, I’ve been making origami boxes to fill with trinkets to send to friends and relatives for various holidays. I hadn’t sent out a box in a couple of years.

One of my favorite holidays to use as a theme is the Lunar New Year. 2016 is the year of the red fire monkey. I grew up in the 60s and 70s and always loved cocktail monkeys as a kid. So I naturally planned my package around the Cocktail monkeys. I also included a St Valentines pendant for some people and a vintage bottle cap magnet with a vintage monkey valentine in it.

So that’s what i did with my 100 monkeys!

Best,

Etsy buyer from Hoarder Rehab

How cool and fun, is that? Here is a photo of her origami trinket box!

photo via Etsy buyer from Hoarder Rehab

What a beautiful box full of themed surprises! It has everything one needs to for a Happy Lunar New Year and Valentine's day! Monkey fun, chocolates and jewelry!

Of course, I'm wondering how many boxes she made with 100 monkeys and would love to be a fly on the wall when all of them are opened!

Smaller amounts in 20, 25 or 30, available here

photo via Hoarder Rehab

Some things you might want to know for this Lunar New Year!

1. Starts: Monday, Feb. 8, 2016 Chinese New Year starts on the night of the second new moon of the winter solstice, according to The Huffington Post. The Spring Festival celebration ends 15 days later.

2. This is the year to shake things up in your life.

According to Susan Levitt, an astrologer, Feng Shui consultant and tarot card reader based in the San Francisco Bay Area, 2016 is the perfect time to create change. With the Monkey’s enthusiastic energy, anything can happen, plans can succeed and risks are minimal because they are rewarded. However, Levitt warns about trusting the wrong people in 2016 because some of them may resort to tricks to take advantage of the gullible ones. She also advises people to avoid a useless tail-chasing cycle, which Monkey minds are prone to.

“As soon as you realize that a path is not fruitful, try a new one instead of staying stuck and trying to analyze the past,” Levitt states on her website.

3. Element: Fire

There are five Taoist elements which are Fire, Water, Earth, Wood and Metal. The New Year 2016 will be especially bright and blazing because it is the Year of the Red Fire Monkey. A little fire won’t hurt once in a while. It gives off both heat and light. Like what “Survivor” host Jeff Probst says in the long-running reality competition, “fire represents life.” It also represents passion and is said to bring joy and creativity. Just be careful not to play with fire, or you will get burned literally and figuratively.

Information from "2016 is Year of the Fire Monkey: 10 Things to Know" by Janice Somosot from International Business Times, read the rest of the article here.

Even smaller amounts of 4 to 12 for cocktail drink or cake toppers, available here

photo via VintageToGoEasy

Saying Goodbye: I have a huge stash of these for myself in varying colors and in retro new style and true vintage. I'll be listing some of my true vintage destash of cocktail monkeys this week on VintageToGoEasy most likely tomorrow.

Here is a preview photo of them and they actually have 1961 pat. pending and some other words I can't read yet on each tail! They are more thin and delicate and even more nostalgic because some are gray!

When we were kids, we'd have monkey wars with these and the first thing that would break were their tails!

1961 true vintage cocktail monkeys will be available tomorrow!
via VintageToGoEasy

What I Learned:

1. A fun email with a photo from an Etsy buyer can cause enough excitement to keep me motivated and going, even when I'm not feeling well. Yes, I think I've had too much Lunar New Year foods lately, even though they are organic, gluten free, soy free and dairy free!

I have been eating lemon cake from Tender Greens that is gulten tolerant and been meaning to ask them if there is difference between that and gluten free.

PF Changs has more gluten free dishes on their menu, however, not organic.

2. One of my New Year's Resolutions this year is to become less allergic to my favorite foods or at least learn to make alternative ones that taste like them.

Also to start working out, so I can eat more and enjoy the foods I love and can eat!

3. I've been practicing other alternatives and strategies to overcome my hoarding ways and this year I hope to make practice more perfect and routine. Routine as automatic, even though retail therapy is so easy, quick and gratifying.

For example, I started my Doodle Journal from last Friday's post! Today is my third day!

We have our vintage Chinese honey comb lanterns up to help celebrate!

Order 5 lanterns here or 1 here
photo via Hoarder Rehab

Thank you Etsy buyer from Hoarder Rehab for the email and sharing a lovely photo of your beautiful origami trinket boxes full of themed fun! and the compliment on my hoarder goodie bag! Love the waves on the origami paper signifying change in motion forever!

Love the photo and the lighting you used!

Thank you Etsy for the best Hoarder Rehab ever! And for all the kind people I'm meeting who are helping me!

Thank you readers from all over the world who continue to support my Hoarder Rehab and The Destiny of Things by taking part with your visits! Much appreciated!

Vintage Happy New Year banner, gold is one of this year's good luck colors, available here

New in package, so I image the font is as shown in white lettering.

photo via The Destiny of Things

Every day I'm becoming closer to my goal of adding new items weekly to each shop until I have 800 of my dehoard listed that will be 200 items listed at each shop! My health has been much better lately, so I've had more time to list.

JUST 11 more items to list before I reach my goal! Yippee!

Click on the shop names to visit new hoard listed daily and/or weekly: HoarderRehab with 195 items, The Destiny of Things- 192 items, VintageToGoEasy - 201 items, soon to be 202 when I add the vintage cocktail monkeys tomorrow and JunkDrawerAndMore - 201 items!