- Vases. I don’t anticipate receiving armloads of flowers from a secret admirer anytime in the near future, and Husband has been trained to get bouquets that fit into my favorite blue vase.
- Dishtowels. I am still using ones left over from my mom and my mother-in-law, since I like the quality linen of long ago. You are allowed to provide fresh dishtowels, I suppose, if you come over and wash the entirety of the stemware, cookie sheets, vintage plates, and pots and pans that I will use over the holidays.
- Serving trays. I got the gamut, from Dollar Tree ones to old silver ones that my kids will never want for their respective households.
- Magnets. We tend to buy them during our travels, and now we have enough to adequately cover both refrigerators. I can just hear my mom saying that it’s so tacky.
- Coasters. If we aren’t buying magnets during our travels, we are buying coasters. I have enough to protect every square inch of every tabletop in the house, and then some.
- Lotion. I am super-picky about the scents I like, so please don’t even try to please me.
- Stemware. Much like dishtowels, I inherited glassware from both moms. And I usually come home from IKEA with just-the-cutest set of goblets. I have sets for red wine, white wine, and champagne. I have shot glasses, high ball glasses, low ball glasses, cordial glasses, pilsner glasses, Nick and Nora glasses, coupes, and brandy snifters. And if I see a vintage stem at a thrift shop, I have to get it. Really, I have let this get out of hand. I guess I need to make more cocktails.
- Earrings and bracelets and necklaces. I am retired, and some days I wear no jewelry and –gasp!–no makeup.
- Cloth napkins, placemats, and tablecloths. I love them all, but unless it’s a special occasion, I am too old and cranky to deal with ironing.
- Decorative pillows. Husband has threatened to leave me if I bring any more pillows into the house. Men just don’t get it.
- Mugs. I have a few favorites, and the rest just sit there on the shelf in the cabinet. Unless I open a bed and breakfast, I don’t need any more.
- Kitchen gadgets. I have duplicates and even triplicates of basics like veggie peelers and whisks. And I even have the esoteric, used-once-a year ones like a nutmeg grinder and a cherry pitter. I am out of storage space.
- Scarves. I have wool and silk and rayon and cotton. I have every color of the rainbow. I have florals and plaids and stripes and polka dots. And they never wear out, so I can’t ever justify throwing any of them away.
- Photo frames. I have accumulated so many over the decades, but I will make exceptions for new frames if they contain our children’s wedding photos. (Note to my kids: see how I didn’t say “grandchildren” here even though I could have? Stop rolling your eyes at me.)
Monica Lists 