Sometimes I get a little OCD about things.   There were recipe contests.   There is blogging.  There is all things New Mexico.  There is Sex and the City and Breaking Bad.  (Quite the contrast, huh?)

If someone tells me they love something, I generally beat it into the ground for gift giving.   For instance, the Goddaughter’s mother told me she loves her French class and her goal is to go to Paris one day (hopefully with her Mums and Godmother).  So, what does she get for every birthday and Christmas? Yep, something Paris or French related.    For my sister, it is usually something related to Bruce (or music in general).

My mom is the same way.   I had a Poppin’ Fresh doll when I was growing up and loved him.  (Allegedly he and I were “born” on the same year.)   Mom has gone a bit overboard and I have Poppin’ Fresh cookie jars, spoon rests, salt and pepper shakers, utensil holders, etc.   These all share one shelf in my kitchen.  (She has calmed down a bit and I haven’t received anything related to General Mills in a number of years.)

 

I also like to put my own spin on things.  That way I am not truly copying.  (All of you recipe developers know what I mean, right?)

Where is this all going, you are asking?   I have been obsessed with cigar boxes since The Hubs made CBGs (cigar box cigars) with the nephews during Thanksgiving 2013.    I couldn’t believe that they were only a couple of bucks a piece and that they came in so many shapes, woods, and designs.   (If you follow all my Pinterest boards you may have seen that I have a huge assortment of ideas collected as to what to do with them.)   And, in the area of copying, I had been wanting to follow Veronica’s lead with her memory jars for quite some time.

 

I found a unique cigar box and told The Hubs about our new project—a MCB (memory cigar box).

 

What are the rules he asked?

1. Whenever we had ticket stubs, restaurant receipts, museum brochures, fortune cookie slips,  wine corks, post cards, etc., we would place them in the box.
2. We would secretly slip in a few things on our own as well.  Things like notes or cards that we might give each other throughout the year or simple notes that recorded a special memory.
3. We would put in whatever each of us thought was memorable about the year.
4. We would not peek until New Year’s Day of the following year.

You can decorate your MCB however you want.  Paint it.  Decoupage it.  Adorn it.

 

These are also great to give to kids for Christmas or for birthdays so they can remember their year.    Guess the Goddaughter will get a Paris-themed one for her birthday this year and my sister will get one with The Boss.

I hope that 2016 is full of very special memories for you and yours.

Happy New Year!