Stuffed!
by Susan Bell

    Stuffed is an appropriate word for this time of the year.  Our kids just finished stuffing themselves with Halloween candy; we’re preparing for a holiday entirely focused on eating, with the centerpiece being a huge stuffed bird; followed by holidays where we’re focused on gift giving and adding to our material possessions that we do not have a space for in our closets. Something’s gotta give! 
    Here are some tips to prepare for the over-stuffed holidays.
     Food. Remember those cans of pineapple you purchased over the summer to make that special recipe that is now lost among newer recipes?  Before stocking up on holiday grocery items, clear out those items that are still within the food safety dates and send them to a holiday food drive.  Local food drives include Scouting for Food, sponsored by the Boy Scouts and scheduled for November. Look for grocery bags to be distributed by the Boy Scouts on November 14, with pick up on November 21. Some of the items most needed by food pantries include canned meat, canned pasta, soup and peanut butter.   
     Gift Giving.  Amid today’s tight economy, who says each gift must be a complete surprise to the recipient?  Feel free to have each member of your family supply you with a list of needs. Consider choosing an item on the list, as well as a small surprise item. Plus, a list of recommendations offers great assistance when buying for difficult relatives.
     Encourage family members to clean out their closets. Kids especially become pack rats with all their possessions and have no room in their closets for new toys. Lately, I have been making my daughter give away five toys whenever she wants a new one. Granted, she picks out the smallest ones, but it’s a start. Another suggestion is to rotate the toys between your child’s room and the basement or another hiding place. When the toys are rotated, the ones that have been out of sight will seem new again to your child.