Labeling! Part 1

Labeling.  It is oh so important!  That is why there is going to be a Labeling Part 2, and maybe even more labeling posts in the future.  It is that important. 

Today's labeling lesson is ALWAYS label the stuff you let people borrow.  Always.  Here is why:

1.  You might want your stuff back.  And chances are, if your name is on it, it will actually get back to you.  Why?  Because every time your friend sees your name it is a big reminder that they should return your item to you.  Right? 

2.  It makes it so much easier on the person that did the borrowing, especially if they borrowed more that one person's stuff.  Example:  I just helped plan a 40th birthday extravaganza for my friend (birthday shout out to Michele!).  We had to borrow a lot of chairs, and I mean a lot.  And THEN when it came time to return the chairs, we weren't exactly sure who to return them too.  It was so confusing!  And a little annoying.  Just grab a Sharpie and write your name on the bottom of chairs (or any such items) before you hand them off.  It just makes life easier.  And you are ensured that you will get your stuff back. 

SIDE NOTE:  Sharpies are your best friend when it comes to labeling. Repeat it with me please, SHARPIES ARE MY BEST FRIEND. They really are the best for labeling big things like chairs and banquet tables.

3.  I am a scrapbooker.  And I have seen non-labelers lose stuff.  It happens.  You THINK you are the only person with a hot pink handled Crop-a-dile (yes, people, that is a real scrapbooking tool), but you are not.  And when everyone whips out their Crop-a-dile at a Crop, bad things can happen - like you never see your beloved Crop-a-dile again.  BUT, if your name is on it, and someone asks to borrow YOUR Crop-a-dile, chances are that you will have it back in your bag again when it is time to go home.  I've witnessed it may a time. 

4. Books and movies are a fine thing to lend out, but chances are, you may not see them again if you don't label them.  The perfect label for these smaller items are an address label.  You know you have TONS of them that you get free in the mail from charities wanting a donation if you accept their free gift of a sheet of address labels.  Well, whether or not you decided to donate (hey, I'm not here to judge) peel off one of those little labels and add it to your book before you give it to your friend.  That is ONLY if you want your book back.  Or your movie.  I may have loaned out my copy of Dr. Laura's The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands with no intention of getting it back.  I'm just sayin'.   And I could see Robb lending out my Anne of Green Gable movies just so he doesn't have to worry about ever having to watch them with me. 

5.  Tools want labels too.  They really do.  Tools are just one of those things that if you lend, you sort of plan on never seeing again.  BUT if your name is etched into the metal with an engraver (yes, I really have an engraver) your next door neighbor will have no choice but to remember whose thingamajig they borrowed. 

SO, my challenge for you is to label your stuff before it walks out the door . . . forever.  And trust me on this, you are not going to look all crazy possessive about your stuff if you name is on it.  You are going to look smart.  Like you care about your investments.  And you should!  It is seriously annoying to have to replace something you loaned out.  Seriously.

Because, there is no question, clean feels good!