Then, of course, Blueprint went kaput (one downside of the Martha enterprise is that if something doesn't do well immediately, bub-bye it goes); since I had just subscribed to Blueprint and would no longer be receiving the issues that I paid for, they decided to send me Martha Stewart Living in its place, which I'm still receiving. Gah. And yet, as much as they make me feel inadequate, I still hoard them, "just in case" they'll come in handy someday.
While cleaning the apartment last night, I found that I have 22 issues of MSL taking up space in our home, and I just. can't. take it. anymore. Yes, maybe in ten years I'll have a lot more use for Martha's recipes and gardening pointers, but I'll go out and buy new issues then. There is no reason for me to hold onto these piles of paper that are doing me no good and just making me feel like a crappy excuse for a grown-up.
What I have decided to do is spend a little time going through and cutting out a few of the "good things," recipes, and articles that may actually prove to be useful to me, and start a small binder with these ideas. It's something I've always wanted to do with interesting articles I've come across, but I've never gotten around to doing it. It will take up a lot less space, and all of these magazines wouldn't have gone to complete waste.
Unless anyone else has any good ideas for how to keep these ideas organized (anyone?), I think I'll get started tonight. Nick will be so excited that I'm freeing up some space around here. I'll have to go buy some new magazines now ;-)
Along the lines of cutting up the articles you want, you can invest in a scanner and scan the ones you like and keep them organized in your computer - that's what I do!
ReplyDeleteP.S. - Thanks for the linkage! And congrats on your win at the People's Choice Awards, Ms Anne Hathaway! (Yes I still think you look exactly like her)
Ha! I just went through this with all my wedding magazines the other day. However, I'm not getting married again, so out into the recycling they go!
ReplyDeleteI'd say if you have recipes you want to try, purchase some cute recipes cards on etsy and start a little rolladex of yumminess. Otherwise, I'd get a duotang (remember those?) and file away your favourite pieces.
Geek in Heels - I'm too impatient to scan :-) I know it doesn't take long, but something about scanning makes me want to run away. But perhaps I'll start my binder and THEN be inspired to scan things in when I have a nice collection!
ReplyDeletegirlonthepark - I have NO idea what a duotang is, but I'm going to have to find out!
I have a general problem with magazines. I keep them because there was something good in there, but it's not like I am going to go back through them all to find the good stuff. I've started tearing stuff out of magazines, but I haven't quite mastered the art out of organizing the torn out pages. Oh well, at least I don't have piles of magazines around anymore.
ReplyDeleteNo, no, no! Don't do it. I beg of you.
ReplyDeleteKimmy -- they may be kinda mutilated by the time I get through them, but if you seriously want them, they're all yours! I can bring them to BKLYN on Saturday.... but John may kill me :-)
ReplyDeleteThis happened to me too (and I found MSL a poor substitute for my beloved Blueprint). I just ended up recycling them all.
ReplyDeleteAs for the big box of wedding magazines, I donated them to my younger cousin who thinks she wants to be a wedding planner. All I know is that my husband would have been in serious trouble if I had started collecting wedding magazines when I was 20.
My favorite way of cataloging favorite articles is getting the cheap sketchbooks from Borders (you know, the ones that cost about 5 bucks and are clothbound) and just tape/paste articles in them as I see fit. It does make it much easier to justify hanging onto favorite issues (as well as most of my Vogue Paris collection) while maintaining a semblance of order with regards to the magazine pile...
ReplyDeleteAlso, the online portions of magazines have been very helpful in helping one keep recipes and whatnot (all in an effort to keep them relevant at all), which could be very helpful moving onwards.
I'm with you on the Martha thing. I subscribed to Blueprint too, and was so peeved when MSL turned up in its place. Waaaay too smug for my liking.
ReplyDeleteGood call on the clean-out!