2.15.2011

why?

What is the point of having 52.3 thousand mugs in my cabinet? Will there ever be a day when I invite over 100 of my closest friends and they will ALL want a steaming mug of something hot? Will the town I live in have a flood and my house remain dry and I must supply warm mugs of tea to all the survivors?

I doubt it. So why do I feel the need to own all of these mugs?

For Valentine's Day Brent let me purchase a set of dishes that I have been wanting for well over a year [pictures later...they are fantastic]. Like any other set of dishes, this set came with matching mugs. So I unpacked all 8 of my awesome and colorful new mugs and, after washing them, began to place them in the cabinet. This is when I realized I have a MILLION mugs! [Okay, I have 40 but that is still A LOT for a two person house...especially when only one person drinks coffee!] 40 mugs. Seriously? We've only been married for 2 and half years, how did this accumulation happen? Several go with our dishes. I understand that. Others have been gifts from students. I get that. Others I purchased in college at local thrift stores. But why oh why do I still have ALL OF THEM?!

I now understand why thrift store shelves are lined with these ceramic vessels. Sure, it may be fun to get a mug that says, "World's Best Hair Dresser/Tax Accountant" but when does the madness stop? If you're like me there are really only two or three that you like drinking out of, and you reach for those every time.

40 mugs. Scratch that. 45. I have 5 on my shelf at school! FIVE?! I only have two hands, what it the purpose of having 5 mugs at my work place?
45 mugs for 2 people accumulated over the course of 3 years.

Do me a favor...go count your mugs and PLEASE tell me you have a ridiculous amount as well so I don't feel crazy.

Seriously...go count your mugs.

confession: I didn't even count my TRAVEL MUGS!

10 comments:

Lauri said...

I have often wondered what the Chinese think as they must manufacture billions of these!

*carrie* said...

That is so funny.

I counted 9 fun/patterned ones, and 10 plain white ones that match our dishes. We only use the white mugs if we need to. Seriously, where do you even store that many mugs?!

Momiss said...

I am down to about 9. Only 3 don't have chips, so I need to throw 6 away.
My advice would be to pack those babies up and get them out in 25 years when you need new ones again.

Barb said...

Ok, I am only doing this to make you feel better. I have 58 mugs, 38 coffee cups and about a dozen travel mugs. And I have gotten rid of many over the years. Yes, I am ashamed.

MW Photo said...

it's ok that you have that many because, one day, we are going to visit, and we are going to sit and have coffee together day after day after day. and NO ONE is going to wash dishes (or vacuum for that matter), because that's just how we roll. :) so, we'll need 45 mugs to enjoy our endless amounts of caffeine. because, once we arrive, we may never leave. and I like my coffee. in fact, 45 mugs may not be enough.....

Sharon said...

28 in my "main" cupboard (mind you, several of these are Lewis & Clark mugs or related such matters), plus 8 coffee cups that go with my dishes, plus 4 Christmas mugs in another cupboard, plus 12 more in another cupboard that go with two other sets of dishes and I didn't even check the dishwasher!. Why oh why did you bring this up?

Brent said...

That's 52+ for Sharon, but Barb is still in the lead. Linda? What'cha got?

Ana-Lou said...

okay so I am VERY embarrassed to confess that it sad to be close to a triple digit. Therefore i stopped the count. I only have 'one set of dishes' . . . and that is after "purging" quite a few. Does it count we are a family of seven though?

Lyricality said...

I think I have left a few with each move... but right now- I have 6 in my cupboard and about 8 more in storage. But that's only becuase I gave away about 6-8 with my last move. and 3 travel mugs. But trust me, the number gives and takes every few months! I have a rule that when I get one, I give one away. That way I don't hord all the pretty ones!

Kelly K said...

UGH! Your mama & I just talked about that last week. I just bought new dishes for 1st time in my life and we talked about the mugs I have. I hate to even go to the cupboard and open it. I don't even drink hot drinks of any kind. All those were Bob's! What to do, what to do? Smashing party sounds good to me!