The Key To Happiness – Oh She Glows

is not to put it off for a later date!

Our William Ashley’s china arrived yesterday via Purolator.

We were really excited to unpack it until we discovered how it was packed…

In a hay stack. :( We filled 4 garbage bags of this stuff!

Our supervisor:

It took us 2 hours to unpack everything, check it, count it, and then clean up the huge mess!

While we were unpacking, we had the when are we going to use it discussion.

You may remember my Use Your Good Towels rant a couple months ago.

We already decided that our china would indeed be reserved for special occasions. But we aren’t going to limit its’ use to holidays only. For example, if we have a nice dinner together, we might use the china. (We’re crazy like that!).

However, we also got some stainless steel cutlery sets that we are in love with. And we started a hot debate about what they would be used for.

I said I wanted to use them on a daily basis, while Eric disagreed and said we should keep the cutlery for special occasions only.

Then I got thinking about my Good Towel post.

And I was like, ‘Why shouldn’t we use our gorgeous cutlery right now? We have been using mismatched hand me downs since university (it is honestly horrid what we use!!!). And we have been waiting for so long to have a nice set.’

But Eric’s reply was that it would no longer be special if we used it everyday.

So I pulled out the what if I died card with a big grin on my face, ‘What if I died next month and you had to live with the fact that I never did get to use the cutlery I loved so much?’

Eric, grinning back, ‘Well I would march that over-priced cutlery right back to William Ashley’s and get my money back!’

Quite cheeky isn’t he? ;) We had a good laugh.

So the debate goes on.

What do you think? Should nice cutlery be saved for special use or do you take the ‘you only live once’ approach with it?

I have always, always been a ‘save special things for special use’ kind of person. But more and more I am starting to toss that idea out the window. So many times I have not used things that make me happy because I am scared of ruining it. Would it really be that big of a deal if we did accidentally ruin a set? Probably not. They were expensive but not that expensive that we couldn’t replace it at some point down the road.

I say use it. We’ve been using our good towels for months now and have never looked back! They make me happy every single day. The only drawback I see with using it is that it has to be hand washed (well, it says it is dish washer safe but I wouldn’t trust it). I hate hand washing dishes, so that might be a pain in the butt. Decisions, decisions…

Better three hours too soon, than one minute too late. ~William Shakespeare

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Milca

15 years ago

For once I actually agree with Eric but instead of holidays only maybe special occasions as well.

Oxidaisy

The key to happiness is to not put it off for a later date! You said it yourself! I agree with all the other arguments: you only live once, what if you hate it in 30 years? and think about how you will feel if you get to buy a ‘special’ china again!
What truly counts, in my opinion, is that you deserve to use your ‘good’ stuff, you are worth it. You hate the mismatched things, so go for it! Every day is special. And about holidays and other special days: they are special like they are: they don’t need china to make them spcial. And if you don’t feel like hand washing that day: use the other stuff. Or put them in the dishwasher, if it’s safe they won’t get scratched if you only put the in the dishwasher every now and then.

Mimi (Damn the Freshman 15)

Use it! I sometimes goof like that when it comes to food. Like “this chocolate is special! I’m only going to dip into it on special occasions.” Well by the time I get around to it, it’s old and crumbly. Carpe diem!

Jess

I’d say just use them whenever the mood strikes. It doesn’t have to be every day but special occasions are never as often as you think. I don’t have any nice china (not really my thing) but I collect different fun dishes of all shapes and sizes and I use them all the time, because it just makes life more fun.

Also, if you can’t agree on the cutlery (although, I say use it every day, it’s just cutlery) why don’t you just go to Ikea and buy a cheap, but quality set? We own two sets of ‘Data’ and everyday I still find them refreshing and exciting to use and they cost next to nothing.

Minta

I say use it. Because I like the French idea of making the whole eating a meal together classy and special. Every meal should be special even if its just a toasted sandwich!

Sorry Eric!

Jenna

Use it you only live once.
Growing up I remeber every Sunday we sat in the dinning room and used the GOOD CHINA not many people can say they got their money’s worth, but I think my MOM can !!
So now I try to use mine all the time no matter what the occasion !!
ENJOY !!

Like Mimi, I too do this with FOOD … I buy gorgeous strawberries or blueberries and then ‘save’ them … what the heck? They go bad before I can find a time that’s ‘special’ enough to eat them. Finally, this summer, I just eat what I want. If that means a whole package of strawberries, who cares? I’m enjoying it!

I say use your dishes. I grew up using SO much paper that I’m sick of using paper plates – not to mention it’s not so great for the environment. I’d much rather get a REAL plate and have a meal and then have to wash it than just throw out a paper plate. (Hubby doesn’t quite get it yet.) I’ve actually thought about keeping a REAL plate and fork in my desk at work (since I work nights), so I can feel like I’m having a REAL dinner.

Maybe don’t use it all the time, but using it will make you happy and feel special.

Jess (What's Normal, Anyways?)

Use it! Everyday that we have is special in someway. Additionally, just think-if you had a crummy day, just think how much you would look forward to using your pretty silverware when you got home? (or had finished cooking dinner, etc). USE IT!

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