I’m a picky eater. Always have been. It was a major miracle for my mother to get me to even taste a green vegetable (unless, of course, it was smothered in cheese). In fact, I only considered corn and potatoes as valid, edible veggies. God forbid she try to pawn brussel sprouts (the vegetable of the devil) or rutabaga on me. Though I eventually got over my aversion to nutrition (NOT brussel sprouts), I still maintain some of my eating oddities.

Among them is my sheer disdain for ‘Stuff in Stuff’. I’ve only found one other person who understands this concept, as it has its nuances. In fact, I’m not sure I can fully explain, but here goes: Chocolate chips in cookies, casseroles, chicken cordon bleu, or stuffed shells do NOT constitute Stuff in Stuff. However, nuts in brownies (or any dessert), celery in potato salad (or egg salad or macaroni salad or ANYTHING for that matter), and anything in Jello, DOES. See the difference?? Most don’t. Stuff that ‘belongs’ in other stuff, that blends and melds with other stuff, is NOT Stuff in Stuff. As a whole, it creates the Stuff. Stuff that doesn’t match or can be ‘picked out’ (ok, so salads are an exception, but that’s a dish where EVERYTHING is separate) is Stuff in Stuff.

If you ever see me with a little pile of something at the side of my plate , you’ll know - THAT was Stuff in Stuff. And I don’t like it. Nor do I like anything in life that doesn’t belong with the other stuff that surrounds it. I like things to be consistent, contextual and meaningful. If it doesn’t belong - if it doesn’t create one concept -  then don’t put it in there! It’s Stuff in Stuff.

Of course, I can translate this easily to website content. For instance, if you have a page on your company’s mission, then don’t include information on your history and your board of directors. Too many times I’ve seen that page. It’s almost as if people throw stuff in other stuff simply because they have it and don’t have any place else to put it.

So next time you have that half-a-bag of leftover walnuts, PLEASE resist the urge to put them in your brownies. Save the world from Stuff in Stuff. Unless, of course, you LIKE nuts in brownies. But then you’re just weird.