To use it , or not to use it.

As I was dusting my dining room this morning, I stopped to admire my formal dinner dishes that I received as gifts at my bridal shower 11 years ago. Do you believe that in the 11 years we have been married we have never eaten on those plates?

Why is it that we are always “saving” things we have for a better time to use, or for special company, or for a special occasion. Why is it we want to “save” things in their pristine glory rather than use them and enjoy them every day of our lives?

Who could possibly be more important company than our family? Why do we save the best for other people? Who are those other people? And if they haven’t come to my home in the past 11 years, I doubt they are ever going to visit. I know that my family is the most important people in my life, yet when they come for dinner I use my every day dishes to serve them dinner, by no means do I think they are offended, but why shouldn’t we use the “best” for the “best”. Now the one down side to formal dinner ware, as you all know, is that it has to be hand washed, but is that really a good enough excuse to not use them? No I don’t think so either.

As a frugal shopper, I have spent many shopping trips debating to myself over making a purchase of something that isn’t a necessity. A splurge on something we don’t really need……like dark brown chargers or a serving platter shaped like a fish or 3 tall crystal candle holders or a silver pedestal dish or fancy glass coffee mugs or brown wire bread basket or a glass water carafe…………..but if I have those things, I could pull them out when company comes over and wouldn’t my table look so nice?

While standing at one of my favorite stores, Winners, I debated over purchasing fancy hand towels for my powder room. Now for those of you who know me, when I say I debated, I really did. I didn’t need them. I had perfectly presentable hand towels already. If they are good enough for us to use every day, then why can’t my guests use those same towels? But on the flip side, why shouldn't’t we wash our hands and then enjoy using those plush fancy towels too.

I think we should enjoy all of the pretty things we have purchased over time and use them. I think we should stop using the same boring stuff day in and out, and stop putting things deep in closets and cupboards for that visit from the Queen of England, who is too busy to stop by for tea.

Well I think we are important enough to use the “good stuff”. I am sure of it! & today I am going to put out some fancy hand towels in the powder room just for my husband and myself. Now let’s be honest, will my husband even notice? Nah I don’t think so either. But I will notice, and when I dry my hands I will smile and be grateful of the extra time I spent at Winners debating whether to buy them or not.

So I have decided, my next family dinner is going to be served on my formal dinner dishes and if you are lucky enough to be here, then you can earn your meal by helping me wash them by hand! Go pull out something nice you bought recently and stop “saving it “ for a special occasion or visit. Every day is special!