I thought I would ask you a question this morning. Have you ever walked into a store looking for one thing and walked out with something that brought back a whole bunch of memories? That’s what happened to me when I spotted Garfield and Odie at Dollar Tree!
You never know what you’re going to find when you walk through those doors. Sometimes it’s something you need, sometimes it’s something you can use around the house, and sometimes it’s something that takes you right back to when your children were little. This time, it was Garfield!
The first thing that caught my eye was a pinkish-red plastic cup featuring Garfield lounging around with Odie behind him. The cup holds 32 ounces and has the words “Ask Me If I Can” on it. The pictures include a doughnut, ice cream, and a slice of pie. Now, I have one question for whoever designed this cup.
Anybody who knows Garfield knows how much he loves lasagna. I love lasagna, too, so I think Garfield and I could get along just fine. In fact, he might make a pretty good best friend! I couldn’t help laughing when I looked at the cup. You’ve got Garfield, you’ve got Odie, you’ve got all those sweet treats, but no lasagna? Somebody needs to explain that one to me!
The cup is made by Nickelodeon, is BPA-free, and is dishwasher-safe on the top rack. It is not recommended for the microwave. At around $1.25, it was a fun little find, and I knew exactly who would appreciate it. When Charlie was a little boy, he loved Garfield and Odie. We watched the show countless times, and those characters became part of our family memories.
Sometimes, as parents, we don’t realize how many little things we’ll remember years later. You watch a television show with your child, hear the same jokes over and over, and think nothing of it at the time. Then, one day, you see those characters on a cup in a store, and all those memories come rushing back.
That’s what happened to me. I bought the cup for Charlie because I thought it would be a fun throwback to those days when he was little and Garfield and Odie were part of our everyday entertainment. He’s grown up now, but that doesn’t mean I have to stop enjoying the things that remind me of when he was a little boy. And if Charlie and I ever sit down to watch Garfield again, you can bet I’ll be looking for the lasagna!
As if finding the cup weren’t enough, I also came across two Garfield kitchen towels. Of course, I had to bring those home, too! I collect kitchen towels and use them to decorate my house. I change them out for the holidays and different seasons, so they’re not just something I use to dry dishes. They’re part of how I make our home feel festive and fun.
When Halloween comes around, I want Halloween towels. When Christmas arrives, I want Christmas towels. And when another holiday rolls around, I enjoy changing things up again. Now I’m thinking about adding more character towels to my collection. I already have Arkansas towels.
I think it would be fun to start looking for different characters to feature around the house. Garfield is a pretty good place to start! The towels were around $1.25 each, which made them an affordable little addition to my collection. I love finding something that makes me smile without having to spend a lot of money.
Finding those Garfield towels also reminded me of Aunt Sue. When I was little, Aunt Sue loved Garfield, and I remember her Garfield gown. Seeing Garfield again brought back memories of those days and the things she enjoyed. I wish I had thought to buy two extra towels for Aunt Sue.
Isn’t it funny how something as simple as a kitchen towel can make you think about somebody you love? We don’t always expect those memories to show up while we’re shopping, but sometimes they do. That’s one reason I enjoy collecting things like these. They can be useful, decorative, and connected to people and moments that mean something to us.
I may look at those towels hanging in my kitchen and think about Charlie when he was little. I may think about Aunt Sue and her Garfield gown. And I may laugh all over again about that missing lasagna! Those are the little things that make ordinary days special.
If you enjoy collecting kitchen towels, don’t limit yourself to the holiday aisle. Keep your eyes open for characters, funny sayings, favorite places, and designs that remind you of your family. I also think Cracker Barrel is worth checking out if you’re looking for cute kitchen towels. They have some fun designs that might be a nice addition to your collection.
I’ll be honest: their towels can cost a little more than I usually like to spend. But every once in a while, you have to splurge on something that makes you happy! You don’t have to buy a whole collection at once. You can add one towel here and another there, looking for designs that fit your personality and the way you decorate your home.
And if you’re like me and enjoy changing your kitchen towels for every holiday, collecting different characters could turn into a fun little hobby. I’m going to keep my eyes open for more character towels and see what I can find! My Dollar Tree trip gave me more than a cup and two kitchen towels. It gave me a chance to remember Charlie as a little boy, think about Aunt Sue, and enjoy a character that has been part of our lives for years.That’s what I love about finding little treasures while shopping. They don’t have to be expensive to mean something.
Sometimes a $1.25 cup can remind you of countless hours watching television with your child. Sometimes a kitchen towel can make you remember a family member who loved the same character. And sometimes a funny picture on a cup can leave you asking the most important question of all.
I think I’ll keep enjoying my little finds, adding to my kitchen towel collection, and looking for more characters to bring into our home. And who knows what I’ll find on my next shopping trip? Do you collect kitchen towels, mugs, or other items featuring your favorite characters? Did your children have a favorite cartoon they watched over and over when they were little? Tell me about it in the comments!
Grateful. Thankful. Blessed.
GratefulMoments.com
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
