What Can be More Domestic Than a Hope Chest?

Whether it be for yourself or a gift for a loved one, a hope chest is a very good investment for the future. It is an enduring symbol of the home, a box of wishes. The idea of a hope chest has been around for centuries and is also referred to as a "dowry," "cedar chest," or "glory box." It was created for young women approaching the age to marry, a box for her trousseau. Originally, mothers would pass on family hope chests or fathers would construct them from wood, but soon many people were buying the notorious cedar chests that were durable and smelled quite good. Typically, a hope chest consisted of home-sewn linens, clothing, dishes, silverware, quilts and sometimes even jewelry. Unfortunatley, the tradition has been endangered since the 1950s and is in desperate need of a rescue! Help revive this time-honored tradition and give the gift that keeps on giving! You don't need to be getting married any time soon in order to start a hope chest of your own; all you need is a dream of a comfortable and happy future! Below, I have provided a check list for the basic hope chest. Enjoy!

The Hope Chest Check List

1. Gadgets Galore!

a. measuring cups

b. spatula

c. rolling pin

d. grater

e. garlic press

f. pizza cutter

2. Whisk and bowl

3. An apron

4. Wooden Spoon

5. Cups

6. A colander

7. Cutting Board

8. Top 3 Fav cookbooks

Pictured here:

a. Jamie Oliver's Jamie's Italy

b. Tessa Kiros' Apples for Jam

c. Susan Branch's Heart of the Home and Vineyard Seasons

9.The Essentials

a. Potholders

b. Napkins

c. Towel

10. Plates(dinner and desssert)