A Present to Myself: The Big Red Binder

As women, often times we forget to pamper ourselves while we are rushing about trying to care for

everyone else. I fall into this all too often. When I am feeling like I need a boost, I find myself perusing online for some little something to lift my spirits.  Save your comments if you want to tell me how shopping isn't therapy. We find our therapy where we can, and if spending less than $20 every once in a while can bring joy to your soul then shop a little bit once in a while. This is usually how I find all the great old cookbooks that I have come to possess. 

As it happened, around Christmas time I had been shopping for gifts for everyone, cleaning my home like a mad woman, decorating for the holidays, baking and cooking, and making everyone's holiday merry and bright, but then I slumped. I was feeling tired and burned out and I wanted to take a break from it all. But how could I when so many people relied on me to give then a Charles Dickens Christmas? I really did feel that I had to juggle it all. Then, there it was, the big Christmas-red binder filled with clippings and handwritten recipes just waiting for me to hit the "buy" button. 

You see, a personal recipe binder, or a recipe card file, is more than just the sum of its parts. Someone took the time to compile those scraps of paper and create a collection that has withstood the test of time. Many of the recipes may be modern, but quite a few will be relics from another time, from when things were different and slower paced. Paper is the most fragile of collectibles, and when you factor in that recipe pages, cards, and clipping are being handled and used in ways that could accidentally destroy them, its a wonder that they hold up at all.

As I had mentioned, I had slumped and needed a pick me up. I told myself that if I can do for everyone else, then I can do some little something for myself as well, and I did! 

The day my package arrived I felt as if there was a special gift from some old friend, long forgotten. The seller even wrapped the binder in holiday paper and ribbon. It was very festive and very exciting, and it made me feel like a kid again :0)

 I have thumbed through the pages of my red binder many times and cooked up a few of the recipes.

 I have enjoyed this binder thoroughly.  Whenever I need a little happiness in my day, I turn the pages and remember the gift that I gave to myself.