finding a happy place for my kids' "treasures"

Please tell me that I'm not the only mom with J.U.N.K. collectors as kids!!  I stand amazed at what I find stashed away in their room.

I mean seriously, Ellee, do you really think it's necessary to keep a "fun colored piece of fuzz" that you found on the playground?!?  Or better, and probably my all-time favorite, a used toothbrush that her "fwiend" at school gave her.

Addie is more likely to keep more "sophisticated" junk - papers that she folded into something "really cool" or 1 of the 55,564,309 duct tape wallets she made for her dolls.

So what's a mom to do?  Or maybe I should say, "what's an overly anal (can I use that word??  Lee hates it..) mom to do?!" I definitely believe in "everything has a place and everything in its place!"

I've always said...if it's important to my kids, I want to treat it as such.  Whether it's a dilemma with friends, a story that I've heard 7 times already, or a piece of paper, I want my kids to know that I care about the (seemingly little and unimportant) things in their life.

I understand that there must be a balance though - I don't want to feed unnecessary drama and I don't want to see my kids on "Hoarders" one day either!  I needed a happy place for all the junk treasures!

So this is where the "Treasure Box" was born!!

Here are the rules for the kids:

• You may keep anything in your box that you want as long as it's not alive or food.  (You can't assume anything around here!)
• The top has to shut - no treasures seeping out of the side!
• When it gets too full for anymore goodies - you have to clean it out to make more room. (This allows them to be in control of what they keep and what they toss.)

And the rule for Mommy:

• I must stay out of their box!! ...as long as they're adhering to the rules above!

So that's it - a happy balance for their junk treasures!

Here's a glimpse at what we're using for now...

*Just a good ole Rubbermaid container that can go under the bed.  It's pathetic how giddy these things make me!*

After we move and get them settled into their room, I'll move beyond the plastic to something a little fancier that matches their room.  I'd love one that will double as a stool.  This is closer to what I'm visualizing...

with a top though...the box MUST have a top

PS...I have to know - do boys do this too?  We're not there yet with this little cutie..