Two Simple Ideas I Can’t Wait to Share

Sometimes I uncover an idea that I can’t wait to share with you, and this week, I have two!

The first is a lovely way to give new life to family dishes that mean something to you. The second is a wonderful reminder that you don’t need a big gesture to make someone’s day.

Have you ever been given china or dishes from a family member, but wondered what you would ever do with a whole set?

When my parents were downsizing, my mom offered me her full set of china. The funny thing was that I had recently been given a full set of very similar china from my husband’s grandmother. I love pulling out our nicer dishes for holidays and special occasions, but having two full sets of dishes isn’t exactly practical!

Recently, I discovered Tiers of Joy, a company founded by husband-and-wife team Richard and Marieli. They turn treasured dishes into beautiful and unique tiered stands.  This lovely tiered stand not only adds height to a table, but also meaning to an ordinary gathering, as each dish has a story to tell. I also love this idea for families who are trying to divide up a set of china. Instead of one person taking the whole set, each family member could choose a few meaningful pieces and turn them into something they’ll actually use. 

This next idea came from Lucy B., who recently joined our The Extra Helping community and shared something she does for a group of older friends. I loved it so much that I wanted to pass it along.

Once a month, Lucy meets six women she used to work with for lunch. Most of them are in their 80s and don't bake. Every time they get together, Lucy brings each of them a little something for dessert like: cheesecake, cinnamon rolls, cake, pie, muffins or whatever she happens to have made.

They really appreciate it.

I love how simple this is. Lucy isn't making something special for them every month, but instead including them in something she is already doing. If she's baking a cake, she saves six pieces. If she's making pumpkin bread, she gives each of them a little loaf. It's a small way of saying, I thought of you.

Lucy often buys containers at The Dollar Tree to package the desserts. Around the holidays, she'll look for ones with pretty or decorative lids. One year she found mini loaf pans around Thanksgiving and baked each woman a little pumpkin loaf. They could use the little pans again after the dessert was gone. She's also used small jars for refrigerator desserts.

Thank you, Lucy, for sharing this with us. I have a feeling a lot of people will be looking at their next batch of muffins or cookies a little differently!

Warmly,
Adina