Life’s Short- Use the Good Stuff

[UseTheGoodStuff]

My mum completed her Swedish Death Clean about 12 months ago and passed on to me a beautiful jug and tumbler set that was a wedding gift.

It’s this fabulous bottle green 1970’s style and for all my life it sat in her display cabinet, never ever to be used. I have loved it always. Anyway, it’s mine now and I have used it 5 or 6 times in the last 12 months. My mum’s face lights up whenever I get it out when she’s visiting. Her face never lit up passing it in her display cabinet for 52 years. It’s not for every day use but it’s perfect for a special occasion, birthday lunch or afternoon tea with old friends.

So a reminder- use the good stuff! Be careful with it but if something gets broken or chipped, that’s life.

I agree. My DF has a cabinet full of crystal glasses from the 70’s, never used. What a waste.

Oo can we have a pic OP?

Probably not to everyone’s taste but I love the set.

Love the colour. I think you should promote it to everyday use. Have it out for dinner every evening

100% with you OP.

That’s gorgeous id use it regularly too

Lovely OP.

Love the set. Very elegant and retro.

Thanks OP , it's lovely!

This is ridiculously heart warming. So lovely to have brought your mum this joy!

We should use our lovely things, wear our best make up and clothes, write in the beautiful notebook. My sister died at 54 and clearing out the drawers and cupboards of the things that she had put away for 'best' was so sad.
Use them!

Absolutely. I don't have anything that's kept 'for best'! No point in having stuff if you never use it.

OP that is gorgeous! 🥰

Slight deviation but what’s a Swedish death clean ?!

It’s decluttering and simplifying your life while you are still able, so your family and friends don’t have to do it after you die.

https://www.thespruce.com/swedish-death-cleaning-4801461

ETA My mum is in perfect health so no sympathy required for me! It’s going to make my life so much easier when she dies and I appreciate it so much.

The colour is very pretty! Thank you for this reminder OP, I think I'll wear a nice dress instead of my usual jeans-based uniform.

I love it and totally agree with the sentiment. I put things away and forget they exist! Have been making an effort to use my huge 70s Poole pottery dinnerware, cups, teapot, you name it, as often as possible.

Get out the beautiful things!

That brought a tear to my eye.

I had that sad experience, after my mum died of finding her "best" and largely unused clothes, perfume and some really lovely stuff.
Live for the day, and enjoy your things.
We're all worth the "Good stuff".

Ooh that water jug would make a very pretty vase for flowers too. My favourite and most used vase is a 1970s coffee pot I chose when my step dad had us clearing out his late father's house.

I so agree with this. I make a bit of pocket money by buying and selling vintage things and I can't tell you how many beautiful things come my way that have never been used. Lovely old tea sets still in their original boxes, wonderful linen sets or embroidered tablecloths that were perhaps given as wedding presents and then spent 60 years in their box in the loft.

Currently I have two 1930s cut glass mirrors still in their original packaging.

It's a joy to find these things and get them out and used but there's always a hint of sadness that they've sat unloved for so long. Makes you wonder what is just sitting in attics and the backs of wardrobes the world over.

Totally agree with this. My parents had so many things that were never used and then none of us had need / space to house.
Nor for their sets of massive matching pieces of furniture.
My mum squeezed so much into her 1-bed flat when she downsized despite us telling her to edit. There wasn't space to swing a cat.
And we still didn't have space for it when she moved out of that one into a home. (Joys of modern tiny homes.)