Patriotic US Flag Napkins: The Destiny of Things, Story 235

Patriotic US Flag Napkins:  The Destiny of Things, Story 235

In spirit of Labor Day holiday....

photo via VintageToGoEasy

other patriotic themed item, here at The Destiny of Things

Here's is the little I received:

Anything that teaches history that I can add to my parties is a sure buy for me. 

I wonder if this person is a teacher because this is exactly what how I used them in the classroom.  These were party napkins for studying the 4th of July and then celebrating about it!  How I managed to end up with some 20 years later is a mystery to me!

Inside a large box was a another plastic box and inside that was a ziploc bag of napkins I had used for parties that we had every Friday to celebrate the end of the week for good behavior and homework or any other milestone.

We called them Friday's Academic parties and basically the last 45 minutes of class time on Fridays was set aside for less formal teachable lessons that I would build excitement and momentum for a week into a culmination of fun each Friday.  

We had 15 min for set up, 30 minutes of party time and 15 minutes for clean up.  These lessons consisted mainly of chemistry lessons or cooking and eating for example making a liquid turn to solid, like making ice cream in a bag in 15 minutes.  

Some student favorites were making paper origami cups to drink water out, making green swamp juice and turning tongues green while drinking out of an origami paper cup, each week for a month making different versions of Stone Soup from the stories and using our favorite stones, Green Eggs and Ham, Gingerbread houses with graham crackers, tea parties and so much more!

And of course, many times educational or matching themed napkins were involved.

photo via VintageToGoEasy

other patriotic themed item, here at The Destiny of Things

Students also loved studying the US Flag through history and especially copying all the different star patterns and making up their own patterns for their own flag, like Betsey Ross.  

And for this party we made patriotic red, white and blue mini cheesecake cupcakes by dropping in a vanilla wafer for crust in a cupcake paper tin and everyone would take turns beating the ingredients and we'd rush it to the kindergarten class to use their oven and bake it for 15 minutes (during my lunch) and everyone got to frost their own with fresh blue berries mixed with cherry pie filling garnished with a little US flag!

It's an easy simple recipe, email me if you need it or the ice cream in a bag.  It's another good yummy chemistry lesson of a liquid turning into a solid for third graders studying the 3 types of matter.

photo via The Destiny of Things, available here

These also work well for reenacting little dioramas for landing on the moon!

Lastly some history on Labor Day from wiki with the last sentence being the kicker:

Labor Day in the United States is a holiday celebrated on the first Monday in September. It is a celebration of the American labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of their country.

Labor Day was promoted by the Central Labor Union and the Knights of Labor, who organized the first parade in New York City. After the Haymarket Massacre, which occurred in Chicago on May 4, 1886, U.S. President Grover Cleveland feared that commemorating Labor Day on May 1 could become an opportunity to commemorate the affair. Thus, in 1887, it was established as an official holiday in September to support the Labor Day that the Knights favored.

The form for the celebration of Labor Day was outlined in the first proposal of the holiday: A street parade to exhibit to the public "the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations", followed by a festival for the workers and their families.

This became the pattern for Labor Day celebrations. Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the civil significance of the holiday. Still later, by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the Labor movement.

The holiday often marks the return to school, although school starting times now vary.

To take advantage of large numbers of potential customers free to shop, Labor Day has become an important sale weekend for many retailers in the United States. Some retailers claim it is one of the largest sale dates of the year, second only to the Christmas season's Black Friday.

Ironically, because of the importance of the sale weekend, some of those who are employed in the retail sector not only work on Labor Day, but work longer hours. More Americans work in the retail industry than any other, with retail employment making up 24% of all jobs in the United States.  As of 2012, only 3% of those employed in the retail sector were members of a labor union.

In high society, Labor Day is (or was) considered the last day of the year when it is fashionable to wear white or seersucker.

photo via VintageToGoEasy

other patriotic themed item, here at The Destiny of Things

Saying Goodbye:  I am thankful that most of my napkins from that era have sold.  At home and for parties, we use eco friendly cloth in place of paper napkins and paper towels.  I might have to celebrate with a batch gluten free vanilla wafers and organic cheesecake cupcakes when my last package of paper napkins are ordered! 

photo via VintageToGoEasy, available here

Cloth napkins and linen towels here

What I Learned:

1.  I do miss the idea of teaching from Academic Parties and if teaching could be like that all day long five days a week and my class came with a kitchen I might go back to it.

2.  It is getting easier and easier to let go of my hoard, especially since I think enough clutter has gone to even unclutter my mind!  And I find myself practicing more mindful conscious buying, since my "Hoarding without Hoarding" experiment went awry.

I will not rely on my idea of hoarding as a business to become my definite future.  As soon as all my hoard finds new lives and homes I am going to move on to something else and trust that the "something else" and I will find each other.

photo via VintageToGoEasy

 tulip cloth towel napkin, available here

Our cloth napkins and towels start off looking this nice, but over time I end up 

tea dying them, mending them and patching them up!

Thank you Etsy buyer from VintageToGoEasy for sending me a little note with your story that gave me the insight to stop my experiment of "hoarding without hoarding" as a business and stress relief.  

I usually binge and rationalize my "hoarding without hoarding" or "catch and release" experiment in times of stress which is winter holidays and the months of July and August.  More about that in another post!

Thank you Etsy for helping me release over 837 hoarded items and supporting my Hoarder Rehab via VintageToGoEasy, The Destiny of Things and JunkDrawerLoveEtsy!

Thank you US, Netherlands, Ukraine, France, UK, Argentina, Canada, Germany, Latvia, Russia, Moldova and others for taking part in my  HoarderRehab and The Destiny of Things! 

Click on the shop names to visit my hoard listed daily: HoarderRehab with 183 items ,  The Destiny of Things-195 items , VintageToGoEasy - 170 items and now JunkDrawerLove - 166 items!  Maybe you'll find something to take home and share your story too!  Thanks for looking!

photo via VintageToGoEasy

 nautical cloth towel napkin, available here

Related Stories:  Other items used in classroom parties...

1.  The Destiny of Things:  Musical "Happy Birthday" Cake Stand, Story II

2.  The Destiny of Things:  Freddie the Frog Puppet, Story XII 

3.  The Destiny of Things:  US Puzzle Map, Story XIV  

4.  The Destiny of Things:  Polaroid Cameras, AmaZing Story XV  

US Flag Related:

1.  Vintage US Flag Erasers:  The Destiny of Things, Story XCV

Most Read Story of the Day:  If You Give a Mouse a Cookie Character and Book:  The Destiny of Things, Story 176 

Most Read Story of the Week, Month and All Time:  My Louis Vuitton Collection: the end of my collection is the beginning for someone else.  The last piece of my LV collection, my 80s LV gold cornered wallet is available here at The Destiny of Things!  

Have a happy thankful safe Labor day weekend holiday!

Lost Tooth in One Green Treasure Chest: The Destiny of Things, Story 234

 Lost Tooth in One Green Treasure Chest:  The Destiny of Things, Story 234

"Urgent"message from an Etsy buyer to include at least one green treasure chest!

photo via JunkDrawerLoveEtsy,

available here

Here is the email:

Hello! You may be able to save me from the worst mummy award if you're able to send at least one green one in the pack!! My son just lost his first tooth - put it in a green treasure chest, and I've mislaid it!!! I have an old tooth to replace, if I can just get a chest!! He's beyond excited about the tooth fairy. I'm happy to pay for extra shipping if you can expedite it! Thank you so much ;) 

photo via JunkDrawerLoveEtsy,

available here

It's so nice to feel like a little secret side kick hero, like saving the day for two people by helping someone avoid the worst mummy award and keeping the excitement of the tooth fairy alive and well!  

How devastating for a little one to lose their first tooth in more ways than one, yet a happy ending for a mother to make everything all right again.

I remember how exciting it was when my first tooth fell out and the tooth fairy would be on her way!  Memories of not being able to sleep waiting for the tooth fairy to hurry up and then waking up in disbelief that she didn't wake me up!

photo via JunkDrawerLoveEtsy,

available here

Saying Goodbye:  When my Dad was in charge of the carnival prizes for the annual picnic, he would always order these and I would always make sure I played the game to get one.  Later as a teacher, I passed these out yearly to all my students and for any emergency fall outs.  Now I pass them out at Halloween.

I'm happy others love them as much as I do.

What I Learned:

1.  Much of my hoard are from nostalgic childhood memories that I carried over to my teaching days to share with my students.  I never thought that many of my childhood toy prizes would be so popular nowadays.

2.  This summer all our Etsy shops are getting many "rushed"orders and they can become quite stressful for me.  Many times people in a rush are already stressed out and we can not guarantee shipping unless it's USPS next day shipping which is $30.00

There are many factors in "rushed" orders that are beyond my control, like waiting for a credit card order payment confirmation which takes one business day, so if someone orders on Friday, it will not clear until Monday.  Not to mention, once it's in the hands of USPS there's not much I can do to "rush" it anymore, even with tracking.

We only ship on Mon, Wed and Fridays because we are a one car family now that my truck needs work on it and it's got too much hoard in it to leave at a shop for a week, so I have to make room in the house to empty the truck!

On and on so much and so forth!  I'll continue to honor "rush" orders and just do my best without getting stressed out myself!

I could never decide which tooth savers I liked best, so I gave my students a choice!

photo via JunkDrawerLoveEtsy, available here

Thank you Etsy buyer for making my day for leaving yours story and letting me come to the rescue!  It was fun!

Thank you Etsy for helping me find new lives and homes for many of my hoarded items.  So far 834 items and counting!  Yipee!

Thank you US, Moldova, Turkey, France, China, Ukraine, Netherlands, Germany, Canada, UK, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Latvia, Taiwan and other countries for taking part in my  HoarderRehab and The Destiny of Things!

Click on the shop names to visit my hoard listed daily: HoarderRehab with 183 items ,  The Destiny of Things-194 items , VintageToGoEasy - 169 items and now JunkDrawerLove - 167 items!  Maybe you'll find something to take home and share your story too!  Thanks for looking! 

Related Stories: 

1.  One Yellow Treasure Chest:  The Destiny of Things, Story 227  

2.  As buried treasure with update photo, here 

3.  My first story about the tooth keeper treasure chests, here

4.    Pros and Cons of Organic Toothbrush Twig called, Miswak

5.   Update on Miswak    

"Light is the task where many share the toil." ---Homer  Thanks to all those who are helping me dehoard and share my toil.

Sushi Bento Grass Garnish and History: The Destiny of Things, Story 233

Sushi Bento Grass Garnish and History:  The Destiny of Things, Story 233

We call it bento astro turf.  Used as color contrast food separators and craft grass.

photo via JunkDrawerLoveEtsy

available here

I used to only be able to find these in Japanese bento box lunches and sushi or sashimi trays.  I'd save them with care, wash and reuse them.  Many years ago, I used my stash making Easter cards with some cute bunnies made from cloth my mom had found.  I think I might still have the sample one in my hoard some where!

Originally used by the Japanese to separate food in a lunch bento in a restaurant, which usually is comprised of many delightful bites of food in different shapes and form or "to go" bento box lunch from a Japanese grocery store or their tray of sushi or sashimi.

Before I had food allergies my favorite thing to order at Japanese restaurants for lunch was their bento special because it's like getting samples of many different types of dishes that I would never bother to make at home for myself.  Can you imagine how much time and pots and pans it would take to make the bento below:

 Typical Restaurant Bento Box

This restuarant doesn't use plastic grass, but the traditional shiso leaf

or perilla beefsteak leaf that are said to be anti bacterial

via google images

Here's a photo of a bento box I'd usually get from a Japanese market:

photo via wikipedia

I found a traditional bento using Japanese astro turf!

I've never been able to find one that serves a bento box for dinner.

photo via wikipedia

A little history about Japanese sushi grass called "haran":

Just like we take our lunches to work, parks, parties, picnics, etc.  The Japanese have done so too decoratively since the Edo period of 1603.

My Grandmothers have grown and used the shiso leaves for separating different kinds of sushi and sashimi, since I was a child.  They grew both the green and purple shiso.

Supposedly, many of the leaves used when cut release a helpful preserving agent and they knew that it helped food stay more fresh longer. I'm not sure if they can be eaten, but my Grandmothers' told me the shiso helped in digestion when eaten with sashimi, but said nothing about them being anti bacterial, although it would help keep food separated and therefore less likely to mix anything.

In the Kansai area, which includes Kyoto and Osaka, the plant of preference was a member of the lily family, Aspidistra elatior. In Tokyo, cooks tended to use sasanoha (the leaves of the bamboo grass plant), particularly for sushi.

Plastic substitutes came into use around the mid-1960s to lower costs in Japanese markets.  Info. from The Japan Times and wiki.

photo via JunkDrawerLoveEtsy

available here

Below is the email story from an Etsy buyer:

I have been looking for somewhere I could get these grass dividers locally forever! I live in California as well and could only find them from china or something. I started doing bento for my boyfriend and I to loose weight :)

How fun!  Making bentos takes a lot of time and energy if you ask me, but they do look like fun and definitely creative!  It seems to have become a craze and there are so many bento box accessories out there these days to make some amazing lunch presentations!  Here are some sample bento lunches below via google images:

photo via modSblog

via SuperForest

Will you be joining the bento lunch art movement?  It does look inspiring and fun, but I think I'd rather eat it than make it!  However I spend a lot of time just trying to find tasty gluten free organic foods and would be really happy just to find an organic restaurant or even prepared gf organic frozen meals for a break from cooking, especially this hot summer!

photo via JunkDrawerLoveEtsy

available here

Saying Goodbye:  I do have my own stash of these and have a plan for them for next year's Easter cards, but I'm so happy that other people enjoy using them in their bento boxes and crafts projects. I have used them as a different kind of twist in mini Easter baskets and care packages because they do accent and bring out certain items and draw the eye because they universal.

What I Learned:

1.  I do miss a good bento box lunch!  Maybe that's why I bought so much sushi grass?  Maybe I miss that family project day making cards with sushi grass?  

2.  I think I will go digging around in my hoard for some shiso seeds to grow in the garden.  I love their different taste, colors and love to use them as mini wraps and in salads.

3.  I'm over hoarding sushi grass, at least not until Easter.

photo via VintageToGoEasy, Red Ball deer available here

Thank you Etsy buyer for sending your story to inspire mine!  Let me know, if it helps you to lose weight and how it works.  Plus I'd love to see one of your bento box lunches!

Thank you Etsy for all your help with my Hoarder Rehab and for 829 items finding new lives and better homes!

Thank you US, France, AU, UK, Taiwan, Ukraine, Moldova, Canada, Germany, China, Russia, and many others for your visits and taking part in my  HoarderRehab and The Destiny of Things!

Click on the shop names to visit my hoard listed daily: HoarderRehab with 182 items ,  The Destiny of Things-193 items , VintageToGoEasy - 168 items and now JunkDrawerLove - 164 items!  Maybe you'll find something to take home and share your story too!  Thanks for looking!

Related Stories: 

1.  Made into earrings by an Etsy shop owner with update photos:  Pope Pius X Canonization Medals:  The Destiny of Things, Story LXXVII

2.  To be used to make tooth jewelry:  Plastic Tooth Locket to Sterling Jewelry:  The Destiny of Things, Story LXXXIII  

3.  Craft cards on a train ride:  Train Travel Card Memory Maker Kit: The Destiny of Things, Story #133 

4.  Doily Wedding Craft Garland:  The Destiny of Things, Story 202  

5.  Neon Googly Eyes for Electric Daisy Carnival, Las Vegas:  The Destiny of Things, Story 204 

6.  Eye Bombing with Googly Eyes:  The Destiny of Things, Story 200   

7.  Loteria Game DIY Mexican Theme Wedding Table Cards:  The Destiny of Things, Story 221

8.   From Hoarder to Hoarder:  Chocolate Milk Caps:  The Destiny of Things Story LXVII

Most Read Story of the Day, Week, Month and All Time:  My Louis Vuitton Collection: the end of my collection is the beginning for someone else.  The last piece of my LV collection, my 80s LV gold cornered wallet is available here at The Destiny of Things!   

 

"A champion runner doesn't even know he's in a race.  He runs because he loves it."---Anonymous 

 

Native American Sterling Watchband by Marie Dale: The Destiny of Things, Story 232

Native American Sterling Watchband by Marie Dale:  The Destiny of Things, Story 232

Someone fell in love with this piece just as I did many moons ago!

photo via Hoarder Rehab

a more dainty Zuni watchband with Caravelle watch, here

They asked what size watch would fit in the gap and after I gave them the measurement it was immediately ordered!

I was going to put the Caravelle watch on this band and use the Zuni watchband with one of the many watches from my Grandmother.

So as a recovering hoarder, I had to ask if this was a special gift for someone or herself and she wrote back with this:

For me. Have been looking for a while and this one just struck my fancy. I love American Indian jewelry and have a large collection. I need to stay away from Santa Fe!

 photo via Hoarder Rehab

Caravelle watch and band available here

and I wrote back:

Lucky you! I loved my large collection too. Loved to wear them all stacked and waited over 3 years to become unallergic to sterling, but it didn't happen. So I am so happy to hear this is joining you and your collection! Thank you!

photo via Hoarder Rehab

a more dainty Zuni watchband with Caravelle watch, here

Her last email read:

I'm allergic to everything, excepting camels I think but thank god not allergic to metals! Thank you. I will take good care of your piece.

Another person allergic to almost everything!  Funny how she mentions she allergic to everything but camels!  It reminds me, I have a camel doll from Africa that my Aunt and Uncle gave me when they returned from going around the world for two years and it's supposed to be made from real camel hair!  I wonder where it is?  I'm pretty sure I still have it some where in my hoard!

photo via Hoarder Rehab

a more dainty Zuni watchband with Caravelle watch, here

Saying Goodbye:  I've loved Native American jewelry since I was a child and had been collecting it ever since, until about 5 years ago I became allergic to almost everything, including all metals!  After a year recovery, I because less allergic to most things, but not sterling.  I've waited a long time to be able to wear them again.

Funny things is I haven't used or worn a watch in over 15 or 20 years.  I gave my watch up one year for Lent and found I didn't need it anymore, so I'm not sure why I've kept them all these years, except as a recovering hoarder, I do often think I'm going to need these things again one of these days.

However, if I ask myself, "What am I going to do with all my Native American jewelry, if I keep it?"  I have no answer.  The year after I gave up my watch for Lent, the next year I gave up jewelry and wore very little jewelry once Lent was over.

I did keep these non metal woven bracelets and wore one once about a month ago.  I just didn't like the feel of wearing anything extra and took them off within five minutes.

photo via VintageToGoEasy

handwoven bracelets available here

And every once in awhile, someone asks me to take a photo with these earrings on because they'd like to see how they hang. I used to have three piercings in each ear and loved to wear 3 different sets of earrings, but now not one piercing has stayed open!

Here are the earrings and if you look at the last photo, they had to be photo shopped on to my ear! lol

photo via The Destiny of Things

80s - 90s sterling amethyst earrings available here

So I think I'll be saying goodbye to all my jewelry, except for maybe a few brooches that I like to wear on jackets.  That should be interesting to see if I can really let go of all my jewelry because I have been collecting jewelry since I was a child, as gifts, souvenirs, milestone occasions, etc.

And I have jewelry in silver and gold, since I could never decide which one I liked better!

What I Learned:

1.  Now that I'll be letting go of all my jewelry, I think it might take me a year to list it all!

2.  At least I know it won't be that painful or stressful to let my jewelry go because I am so used to not wearing jewelry that wearing jewelry just doesn't feel right anymore.  So while other things might still cause anxiety to let go, at least I know I can dehoard all my jewelry peacefully and with ease.

 

What's your favorite piece of jewelry?  It's odd I know, but I still love my favorite pieces of jewelry and still when I see some beautiful jewelry I do feel like getting it and I wonder what outfit it would best accent, but at least I don't buy it!

Thank you Etsy buyer for making this such a happy transaction and for loving it as much as I do!  Thank you for helping me come to the realization that I'm just not a jewelry wearing person anymore!

Thank you Etsy for making my Hoarder Rehab so easy and conscious now.

Thank you US, Netherlands, France, Ukraine, China, Germany, Canada, UK, HK, Hungary, Poland, Philippines and many others for coming to visit and taking part in my  HoarderRehab and The Destiny of Things!

Click on the shop names to visit my hoard listed daily: HoarderRehab with 183 items ,  The Destiny of Things-192 items , VintageToGoEasy - 166 items and now JunkDrawerLove - 162items!  Maybe you'll find something to take home and share your story too!  Thanks for looking!

I loved wearing my Native American bracelets stacked!

photo via Hoarder Rehab, Native American jewelry available here

with more to come, so check back often!

Related Stories:

1.  Large Sterling Hair Clip:  The Destiny of Things, Story 167  

2.   My "Go To" Native America Barrette:  The Destiny of Things, Story 158 

3.  Stage Protector Turquoise Native American Bracelet:  The Destiny of Things, Story #110 , A Poet who included her beautiful poetry!

4.  An Etsyian, Bianca bought my Native American jewelry as a strength bracelet, here

5,  Five Cross Bracelet:  one of my favorite bangle's new life in Australia!

6.  Native American Souvenir Barrette:  one of my favorite barrettes from the 90s

7.  Twin of Something Blue for you:  Native American turquoise sand cast bracelet

8.  Cloud 9 to Corn from Heaven:  a small Native American bracelet I never received and forgot because I had bought so much and came later with a bigger surprise!

9.  Native American stacked rings and bracelets:  more of my Native American collection!

10.  Native American Money Clip:  bought by another Etsyian shop owner!

11.  Little Native American Twin Cross Set for daughters

"Harmony.  It's not what's lasting or permanent.  It is about individual voices coming together for a moment.  And that moment lasts a length of a breath, or in my instance a transaction.  That's what I think about my time here."---Frank Underwood from House of Cards or in my case, I think it's "destiny, as well as harmony."

Mini Turtle Erasers: The Destiny of Things, Story 231

Mini Turtle Erasers:  The Destiny of Things, Story 231

The cutest Tina the Turtle story!  Can you find Tina in the bunch?

photo via The Destiny of Things

 mini erasers available here

First I received this email:

Hi There!
I'm looking for the tiny turtle you have pictured here? I would love this listing with only turtles....how many do you have available? Thx for your time!! :)

and I emailed back: 

Hi!

Thank you for the email and inquiry. I think I'm running low on these erasers, but I'll check as soon as I return from my morning appointments. I do know I have many of these in frogs and ladybugs. The frogs are listed here at my other shop here

www.etsy.com/listing/163491038/10-kawaii-cute-small-leap-frog-erasers

Get back to you by this afternoon! Have a good Friday!

Kindest regards,
~Kennedy at
www.etsy.com/shop/HoarderRehab
www.etsy.com/shop/thedestinyofthings
www.etsy.com/shop/vintagetogoeasy
www.etsy.com/shop/JunkDrawerLoveEtsy

Read 220+ stories from Etsy buyers who help me stay focused on my HoarderRehab!

hoarderrehab.blogspot.com

photo via The Destiny of Things

Turtles are SOLD OUT, other mini erasers available here

By the time I got home there was this email:

Hi Kennedy! 

Thx for getting back to me! :) even if u only have three turtles, I'll take em! My daughter is obsessed with this eraser she got in an Easter egg at the park- she calls it Tina and she is always losing it and finding it days later bc it's so small! Haha! I'd love to have a few more! ;)
Thx u!!!

photo via The Destiny of Things

Turtles are SOLD OUT, other mini erasers available here

End of story?  Not quite!  Then I received this at checkout:

Note from Buyer TINAS TINAS TINAS!! Oh boy! She is going to go crazy!!! :) I think I'll give them all to her for her bday (coming up) in a little purse!! I bet she will scream!!! HAHA! She has her current Tina resting in a little tiny wagon in a fairy garden right now! :) Let me know when you post this story on your blog- I'd love to read it!!! :) Thanks again!

photo via The Destiny of Things

Turtles are SOLD OUT, other mini erasers available here

How exciting and fun is that little moment going to be when she opens her purse and finds a nest or bale of turtles in it!  I wish I could see and hear her reaction!  How cute, I'd love to see the original Tina sitting in her wagon enjoying her fairy garden view!

photo via The Destiny of Things

Turtles are SOLD OUT, other mini erasers available here

Saying Goodbye:  That was such a fun story to get and I did have a twinge of anxiety of all the turtles leaving, but it going to bring so much happiness to a little girl that my hoarder sadness left quickly.

Plus now every time some of my hoard leaves, I ask myself, what am I going to do with this if I keep it?  And so far, I haven't come up with any answers with the last few things that I've let go.

What I Learned:

1.  Asking myself the simple question of "What am I going to do with this if I keep it? is an easy tool for me to use as part of my Hoarder Rehab and I have no idea why I never thought about asking myself it before! but I'm sure glad I'm using it now.

2.  Recently I've gotten four stories from Etsy buyers whose little ones have lost something dear and have found replacements at one of my shops!  How cool is that?  As a matter of fact, I just got one today for these and it came with the cutest story too! So stay tuned...

What childhood treasures were your prized possession?  I had several.  I had a monthly fond treasures!  A mini felt cat named Pinkie that I took everywhere.  The cocktail drink mermaids, paper drink umbrellas and a plastic fan toy prize from the Botan Rice candy box!  My favorite hopscotch chain bracelet and good luck Zuni Sungod pendant.

 I could not find a photo on google of mine.  I need to find it now!

Mine was like this one, but oval shaped.

Thank you Etsy buyer for making this such a fun and happy transaction!  I love those turtles too, but know they are better as Tinas with your daughter!  Thank you for your story that helps me with mine.  Now I can just ask myself a simple question, "if I keep this what will I do with it?"

Thank you Etsy for helping me find many ways to solve the mysteries of my hoarding ways!

Thank you US, China, Slovakia, Canada, Russia, Ukraine and many others for or coming to visit and taking part in my  HoarderRehab and The Destiny of Things!

 Click on the shop names to visit my hoard listed daily: HoarderRehab with 182 items ,  The Destiny of Things-193 items , VintageToGoEasy - 170 items and now JunkDrawerLove - 164 items!  Maybe you'll find something to take home and share your story too!  Thanks for looking!

My latest alternatives to hoarding:

 Clover leaf patch badge available here

Upper left patch badge here

Related Stories:

1.  One Yellow Treasure Chest:  The Destiny of Things, Story 227

2.  Tiny Erasers Vintage 80s Taiwan:  The Destiny of Things, Story #138  

Most Read Story of the Day:  Destiny As Infinity: HoarderRehab Epiphany #6, mish mash of thoughts leading to a somewhere destination! 

Most Read Story of the Week, Month and All Time:  My Louis Vuitton Collection the end of mine for the beginning of someone else.  The last piece of my LV collection, my 80s LV gold cornered wallet is available here at The Destiny of Things! 

"It's never too late to have a happy childhood."  Tom Robbins, Still Life with Woodpecker.

Boardwalk Empire Patriotic Crowns: The Destiny of Things, Story 230

Boardwalk Empire Patriotic Crowns:  The Destiny of Things, Story 230

On July 4th someone asked if they could just order some of these:

photo via The Destiny of Things,

other half is available here

As a recovering hoarder, I was so curious as to how someone was going to use these after the 4th of July, so I just had to ask....

photo via The Destiny of Things,

other half is available here

and I receive this reply:

I just plan to decorate with them for 4th of July. I don't have a lot of decorations for that holiday...

You know me... I'd love to see how these are used as 4th of July decor and perhaps will see how they are used next year!

photo via The Destiny of Things,

the other 6 are available here

I had a huge amount of these for patriotic parades and assemblies for my students.  They loved to wear these for special events and it was a good way for me to keep track of them more easily.

photo via The Destiny of Things,

other half is available here

Saying Goodbye:  I don't know how I ended up with so much of my teacher destash, especially patriotic items for children, like US flag erasers, US flag cupcake toppers, US flag stickers, US flag pins and US flag pocket clips!  Click here to see them all!

I am thankful they are 80s to 90s vintage and I will be even more thankful when they all find new homes!  I think I might speed the process and start putting some in my "thank you" packaging.  

What I Learned:

1.  Is this the first time I feel slightly impatient about my hoard not leaving fast enough?  That's never happened before, usually I am very patient and can wait "years" before something of mine on Etsy finds a new life.  Maybe my progress has been accumulating slowly but surely, even though on most days I don't recognize it.

2.  These patriotic crowns remind me of flapper days and I can just imagine Lucy Danzinger from Boardwalk Empire wearing one of these as she jumps out of a cake singing the Star Spangled Banner.

What do you use as decoration for patriotic holidays?  Nothing fancy, but I usually put US flag toothpicks in planters around the house, in a fruit salad of strawberries and blueberries, cheese blocks and deviled eggs.

photo via The Destiny of Things,

available here

I think I'll start putting my patriotic destash in my "thank you" packaging that comes with an order.  When is the next patriotic holiday?

List of Patriotic Holidays:

1.  Martin Luther King, Jr. Day takes place on third Monday of January each year, near the time of Dr. King's birthday on January 15th. It commemorates the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a reverend and civil rights activist who lead the African-American civil rights movement in the United States. He is best known for his inspirational "I Have a Dream" speech, delivered at the March on Washington in 1963. His birthday was established as a national holiday in 1986, but was not celebrated in all 50 states until 2000.

2.  Washington's Birthday was established as a federal holiday in 1885. It celebrates the life and contributions of George Washington, first president of the United States and general of the American Revolution. In some states, the holiday is expanded to also commemorate President Abraham Lincoln's birthday, and is thus referred to as "President's Day". It occurs on the third Monday of February, near both presidents' birthdays.

3.  Celebrated on the last Monday of May, Memorial Day commemorates men and women who have died serving the United States. It was first instituted to remember soldiers who died in the Civil War, and was originally called "Decoration Day" because of the tradition of decorating soldiers' graves.

4.  Independence Day marks the adoption by the first Continental Congress of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Every July 4th, Americans celebrate this federal holiday with parades, fireworks, games, and patriotic music, following Thomas Jefferson's injunction that,

"It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more."

5.  Labor Day:  first Monday in September and is a celebration of the American labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of their country.

6.  Constitution Day is celebrated on September 17th, memorializing the date that the Constitution was signed in 1787. Previously known as "Citizenship Day", it became an official federal holiday called "Constitution Day" in 2004. On this day, students learn about the constitution, the rights it ensures, and related issues in American government and history. 

7.  The Tuesday following the first Monday of November is Election Day, when ballots are cast for elected officials. The first presidential election to occur simultaneously on this day took place in 1848, and the House of Representatives election was moved to take place on the same date in 1872. Voting that takes place on the same date throughout the country prevents earlier elections from affecting later ones. 

8.  Veterans Day is celebrated on November 11th and commemorates all veterans of the US military. A federal holiday, it occurs on November 11th to memorialize the Armistice which ended World War I on that date in 1918. It was proclaimed a holiday by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1954. 

9.  December 15th is Bill of Rights Day, celebrating the addition of the Bill of Rights to the U.S. Constitution on that day in 1791. This holiday celebrates the freedoms and rights that the Bill of Rights preserve for Americans. In 1941, on the 150th anniversary of the ratification of the Bill of Rights, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared the date a federal holiday. 

Got a little carried away with the next patriotic holiday!

Thank you Etsy buyer for relieving my hoarder curiousity!

Thank you Etsy for helping me find new lives and better homes for 799 hoarded items!

Thank you US, Germany, Ukraine, Finland, France and others for taking part in my  HoarderRehab and The Destiny of Things!   

 sample of "thank you" package with any order

photo via The Destiny of Things, available here

   

Click on the shop names to visit my hoard listed daily: HoarderRehab with 182 items ,  The Destiny of Things-192 items , VintageToGoEasy - 170 items and now JunkDrawerLove - 165 items!  Maybe you'll find something to take home and share your story too!  Thanks for looking!

Related Stories:  

1. These went into a pinata as filler for a little girl's bi country birthday:   US Flag Erasers:  The Destiny of Things, Story XCV  

2.  US Flag Erasers and Cocktail Mermaid Ornaments:  The Destiny of Things, Story 216

"The more we sweat in peace, the less we bleed in war." -- Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit