Tune into the new podcast, Stories from the Village of Nothing Much, like Easy Listening, but for fiction.

If you've overdosed on bad news, we invite you into a world where the glimmers of goodness in everyday life are all around you.

I'm Catherine Nikolai and I'm an architect of Cozy.

Come spend some time where everyone is welcome and the default is kindness.

Listen, relax, enjoy.

Listen to stories from the Village of Nothing Much,

on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts,

or wherever you get your podcasts.

Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of I Heart Radio.

Good morning. This is Laura.

Welcome to the Before Breakfast Podcast.

Today's tip is to make a plan for using those gift cards that you and family members may have received over the holidays.

I'm writing this tip as much for me as anyone else.

Each year my older kids in particular as much for me as anyone else.

Each year, my older kids in particular

wind up receiving gift cards from far-flung friends

and family members.

We note who has received what,

so we can send thank you notes.

But that thank you writing process tends to happen prior to the gift cards being used.

Over the next week or so after Christmas, the piles of presents get moved up to people's bedrooms.

My kids get absorbed in other things, like traveling to see relatives, and then starting up school again.

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