I always liked the fancy stuff. Fancy dresses, very fancy shoes -- ok, I know, it was only the Sears catalog -- but still! When it's all you've got, use it! Most of all I lived in the kitchen appliance and dishes pages.



Skip to ten years later and I start amassing my wealth of fancy kitchen things. Beautiful dishes, great flatware, and of course fancy crystal stem-ware, not to mention cookware and kitchen gadgets. All of which I still own to this day. Yes there was buyers remorse. There was doubt and always wondering when I was ever going to entertain enough to use it all. Then one day I realized that I really needed my fancy things. So out came the crystal and the "fine" china. Every day I drink from my finest glasses. Water, milk, wine, margarita, whatever! It's always in a beautiful glass. Cereal, cheese fondue or a beautifully grilled steak with sauted vegetable gourmet dinner. It's always on my best dishes. I donated my "everyday" dishes and glasses to the Goodwill and I only use my best.

Why? It's simple really. If I don't use it, who will? And do I really need to wait for that fleeting dinner party to enjoy my fancy things? No way. Every day is a fancy day -- no matter what!