Two Simple Pleasures

If you know me personally or you've followed my blogs over the years, you know my husband and I have moved a lot over the years. A lot.  Sometime in the midst of all of our boxing and packing and moving again and again, we decided we had too much stuff.  Lets face it, chachkies and collectibles are really just dust collectors. I mean how many candle holders or Star Wars toys, or cutesy figurines does one household need? So we started getting rid of most of it and boy was it liberating! With every move we donated, gave away, or threw out more stuff. Our home and our lives were vastly uncluttered, and we began spending our money on things we could use or things we could do. Our focus got away from accumulating things and more on doing and experiencing things.

But there are two things I have a very difficult time staying away from: coffee mugs and writing implements. I'm not sure why I like mugs so much. I have a full set up coffee cups that came with my dish set, and yeah, I never use them. I only put them out when I have company and I need a set for dessert and coffee/tea.  We have flushed out many of our mugs over the years in the decluttering and downsizing, but I still have enough to use a different one each day. Lately, my obsession is as much about the shape of the mugs as it is what's on them. At work, I have a special one. It's red (which is unusual for me) but it has one of my favorite expressions on it: It is what it is. I saw my friend Annmarie with it in a photo and commented about needing to have one. In true friend fashion, she saw one and picked it up for me. At home I have several. My weekend mug is my favorite. It's an oversized mug with flip flops and it says: Life is better in flip flops. I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment and I like the shape and size of the mug.  The design isn't even that great but I love flip flops and I love my mug. My other favorites are a K Scrabble tile from my sister; a very cool shaped and textured mug with the Beatles lyric: It's been a hard day's night and I've been working like a dog, that my sisters-in-law bought for me when I finished my doctorate; a Dunkin Donuts mug that I just like the shape of and the way the handle feels when I hold it; and a slightly oversized mug I bought two of, years ago at a Tuesday Morning store when I lived in Boynton Beach (the other one is gone- I think it broke). And as I walk by the mugs in Home Goods or Target or Bed Bath and Beyond, I always pull at least one off the shelf (today it was two) but usually put them back before I check out. Why do I need another mug?

And writing implements... it's no wonder. I love to write and love to journal, and I'm a teacher. I think between the two it's part of my being to love pens! Different colors, different kinds of ink, you can never have too many pens. These days, people seem to love wet ink pens. My husband and my son are fans of the Pilot. Strangely enough, my husband likes the mini ones. I think it may be because they fit nicely in his work short pockets. I've never really like the popular gel pens, but the pilots are okay. Though I like an old school fountain pen with the refillable cartridges (my favorite color ink is Peacock Blue), my favorite everyday pen is fat tip ball point pen. Remember the old point blue cap Bic pens, the cheapy ones? Well, now Bic makes a package of pens that same style, but in a multi-color pack. The trick for the best flowing, bold ink is the tip needs to be more than 1.0 mm. I love the way these pens write. A close second is the old Papermate Flair felt tip pens. I remember when I was a kid, my dad had these in blue and black in his office. Now they come in all kinds of fun colors. The drawback is the ink doesn't last very long when you use them frequently.

  

I suppose it's not so bad I collect these things. At least they have a use. I have to admit, the one force that seems to hold me back from buying more mugs is I'm out of cabinet space! Pens, well you can never have too many pens. Especially when you're a writer.