Ken and I bought all brand new plates and bowls about 2 months ago. Nothing special simple all white sets (see photo above). We just wanted dishes that matched. We have been together 7 years now and we felt it was time to have dishes that matched. Against my gut feeling we bought our simple sets from Wal-mart. 2 months have passed and now 2 bowls have cracks in them and are basically worthless. I told Ken that this would happen. There is a conspiracy will you in regards to consumerism this day and age. Cheap products are not made to last, if they were business would go under. Know what is the scariest part about it? People don’t seem to care and actually expect it. It’s that mentality well I didn’t pay that much for it so I am glad I used it for as long as I did. And head back out to the store to buy a new set not thinking twice about it. After the second bowl cracked yesterday I suggested to Ken that we use the china my grandmother had given us for our wedding. Which Ken asked well don’t we want to use that for just special occasions? In which I asked, what’s the point of having something nice if you never use it? Besides it has been sitting in their boxes since our wedding 2 ½ years ago. I don’t have a china hutch yet to display it so I just get to see the boxes and it saddens me.
My grandmother once we announced our moved up wedding date (see unexpected baby Leila) asked if we had registered for our china in which I giggled and said didn’t even think about it. So my grandmother went out and picked out a pattern for Ken and I. From her heart to our home she picked something simple and timeless. What better way to appreciate such a loving gift than to use it everyday?
So am I crazy? Do you use fine china everyday? Special occasions? Should I just start keeping an eye out for a china set at a thrift store and spend the same amount that I did on the cheap Wal-mart stuff? And use the second hand china everyday since it doesn’t have the same sentimental value so if something breaks I don’t feel horrible?
Honest I need all opinions! What would you do?
15 Comments:
use them!! I once saw this thing on tv about china, and the factory ceo explained that china is meant to be used and is stronger than most other dinnerware.
With that said, I would use them for now, and then if you do find something you like at the thrift store, pick those up and use those. That way if something (God forbid) did happen to your china, you wouldn't feel so bad.
i agree - use them! if can afford it and if the pattern is still available spend the money you would to buy a whole new set of dinnerware to purchase an extra place setting or two of the china to keep in the box to serve as replacement pieces if something were to happpen to a piece from your set. i'm sure your grandmother would love it that you are putting her gift to good use and this way you can be sentimental everyday.
use it! what's the point of having a gift that was chosen for you with such love if you don't get to see it and use it and enjoy it every day? sure it will chip and break over time, but you will always treasure memories of meals served on it :)
I bought the good stuff, well actually I got it at my bridal tea. But let me tell you we have been married almost 8 years and we are still using it EVERYDAY! It gets loaded in the dishwasher everynight. I don't even buy plastic plates so seriously EVERYDAY! Here is the addy to my set http://www.pfaltzgraff.com/shop/brandpatterns.asp?pid=167
everyone that I know that has this brand has been extremely happy with it. They also have really good sales.
I have to agree with everyone here. Definitely use your china, at least until you can get something nice and sturdy for everyday use. We didn't register for fine china when we got married, because I knew we'd probably never use it, but I made sure we got some really sturdy stuff for everyday usage. We use Mikasa, which you can get at Bed Bath and Beyond, and I've never had any problems.
I understand your concern. I think I'd be scared to use my fine china for everyday usage as well, esp. with a baby in the house. Best of luck!
Another vote here for use it. We don't have everyday and fine china, just everyday stuff that we really like and that is pretty good quality. While I do like to save some things for special occasions, I like the idea of using things that cost the most and bring the most pleasure to us (which certainly aren't always one in the same) the most often. Life is to be lived, and things are to be used. Get as much pleasure out of them as you can, I say, but know that a chip or a break may occur. And that's okay.
I think you should use them, because I'm not brave enough to use mine...
I understand the apprehension to use them, I don't want to break any of mine. At the same time though, I love my china and don't like that it gets used so infrequently. So, I know it doesn't help your situation, but your post and the comments are inspiring me. I'm going to start using my china for Sunday dinners.
I have stoneware that I use for everyday, I like it because it's pretty heavy duty.
I bought some nice dinnerware not too long ago and have used it only for special meals so far. My husband is a bit clumsy and chipped a plate the first time we used them so we use other ones for everyday :-)
Well, my everyday dishes are a really nice set of vintage "special" china. Obviously they don't have any sentimental meaning to me, but they are gorgeous and I love them. I picked them up at a garage sale for $25 for the whole set.
So, I vote for just using it, but maybe do try and look at garage sales for a secondary set?
(Oh, I do not let Jack use them though!)
yes, use it! i think one of the neatest things is to eat everyday foods off of china just because it is china. and that means you're living in the moment and not waiting for a perfect moment to use them, which may be never. so do it and enjoy it and think of your grandmother every time you do :)
USE THEM! Our fancy dishes were in the boxes for 5 years. I pulled them out last summer. I love using them and they make me want to set the table. Mine are also from my sweet grandma.
We use our fine white porcelain everyday and some have a few small chips, but it adds a certain "chic" that only by using do you achieve. 21 years and counting!
We have bamboo for outdoor which we love rather than using paper! After all we cannot take it with us and we do need to think about future generations!
I would definitely use it! Just set aside maybe two place settings so that if anything did happen, you'd still have some to remind you of your grandmother's love. Although, I shamefully admit that mine (13 place settings!) sits packed away in a box since our last move 6 years ago. Maybe I'll get it out...
hi - i am delurking, came over from sarah's site. we use mismatched plates, etc. (but within the same color scheme) here and replace them with other mismatched ones from the thrift store. i don't know why, but i kind of like it. when i find nicer pieces at goodwill, we add those to the mix. we do have my grandmother's china in the cupboard, but since the replacements are pricey/hard to find, i like it for special occasions, but since it is older, the pieces are sort of odd sizes.
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