apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Yeah, I've heard about this "gift closet" concept, which just seems to point out all that's wrong about the world. I haven't used Real Simple's lists, but I do have a few of my own which include a moving checklist and an inventory of what's in my emergency kit (like exp. dates of food I have in there).

I have a "gift shelf" in my kitchen for hostess presents -- nice olive oil, wine, candles, etc., along with a stash of gift bags. It definitely makes life easier when I'm getting ready to go to a party.

But I certainly don't need an inventory for any of this.

i don't have a closet of them, but i do keep a drawer of little things that make good hostess gifts or "thinking of you" surprises. i don't think there's anything wrong or unusual about that. makes my life simpler for sure. i don't need to keep an inventory list of it, but maybe if you're a busy mom of three with lots of social obligations and a short memory span, it helps...?

Actually, I like the "keeping track of sports equipment" idea. My bf is a avid any-sport-that-requires-lots-of-equipment dabbler and we have a whole room dedicated to his sporting adventures. A list would be a great way to organize the rock climbing, surfing, skateboarding, skiing, snowboarding, tennis, soccer, golf crap. Er, I mean equipment.

We have so many little nieces and nephews right now that I keep a stockpile of books and some toys - whenever there's a good deal I get a bunch - and it's definitely come in handy when a birthday sneaks up on us. However, all this, along with other lovely things waiting to be regifted, fit into a medium-sized plastic container and one quick glance will tell me what I have. I would not deem an inventory list of gifts as "essential."

The list one really needs is what one already GAVE to people in prior years, particularly if they're out-of-town relatives. I kept a list for a while, then fell out of the habit, and I have a creepy feeling that someday I shall give someone the same book on three consecutive birthdays.

i'm not going to resubsribe to RS - too many things like this are starting to annoy me. i like to look at peaceful rooms and creative ideas, but layouts of $500 shoes and irritating "tips" are turning me off. all of us already feel guilty we're not martha stewart - do we really need it added on everywhere?

I have a box of gifts I have been stockpiling from my time living and traveling abroad and from things I see out shopping that I know could be wonderful gifts sometime in the future. You never know what occasions might come up, and it's really handy to have a hostess gift or birthday present ready to go whenever you need it.
My mom actually has the closet of stockpiled gifts. I used to mock the closet, but then I lived in Japan where there are tons more obligatory gift-giving occasions and realized that it's extremely practical to have gifts on hand. However, I don't know any people in Japan who have gift closets. And forget the inventory list. What a hassle.

A "gift closet" is the same thing as a wrapping room to me -- "real" people have these things?

This year is the first year I stored a list of xmas presents on my computer. I even created a "xmas 2008 ideas" list. I feel so organized; that is until I forget I wrote it 10 months from now :)

I keep gifts around. Little bitty thanks for having us gifts, kids gifts, and sometimes (okay, always) wedding presents that I've bought while travelling. After I came home from Turkey with exactly two wedding gifts in tow even though I knew full well that we'd be spending the whole summer watching people get married, I got smart. I also have gifts that I forgot to give. I have a shelf for these things, above the iron and below the cables and cords. It is not a very large shelf. It is definitely not a closet. It is in my wrapping room, though. Katalyst, are you saying you don't have a wrapping room?

I'm think Real Simple is running out of bright ideas and starting to grasp at straws. Or maybe America has gone totally insane. You can't tell when you need to replace your sporting equipment? Isn't "when it starts to fall apart" pretty much the rule? I could replace my bike helmet more often. Should. But I doubt an inventory is going to help me there.


I keep a list of movies I want to see, but I don't need a form for that (I'd lose it, anyway.) I was going to call bullshit on all their forms, but I have my own version of the house guest form letter (tho, I usually fake like I didn't just cut and paste from what I gave to the last guest.) and the thorough guidelines for babysitters are smart (I speak as an experienced baby sitter. Everyone has their crazy rules. Just spell it out for me.)

If your kid has all kinds of special needs, you don't need Real Simple to show you how to make a list of them.

I guess this is my take on most of this stuff. I make a lot of lists, but I'll work out which ones need structure and which can go on the chalkboard.

Yeah, I think there's a difference between having a few gifts around for unexpected hostess gifts or a drop-by visit to the nieces and nephews and something that needs an inventory! Wrapping room--another phenomenon I don't get. I think I give gifts quite often, actually, but I've never felt lacking by not having a Pottery Barn "wrapping station."

I actually do keep a bag of gifts on hand. They come in handy when you have no time to shop and a party to go to! Having a checklist to keep track of what I have would actually be really helpful.