Is it just me or do you have a hierarchy of mugs?

[BellaBearisWideAwake]

And is it something you share or do you seethe when someone helps themselves to the wrong tier?

eg mugs you don't mid being taken outside/mugs for builders

mugs just for real coffee

mugs only YOU can use

or is it just me?

I am sure that an anthropology professor would love to do research on mug hierarchy, and what that says about a person.

Oh yes, I am definitely mad with you all.

The DC have "their" mugs (which I only use when they are not looking) - then there are general mugs, cooking mugs, builders/garden mugs, and my selection of my mugs, which have to be pleasing both in shape and colour, and the wrong-in-some-way (mostly too small) mugs which migrate to the back of the cupboard through lack of use.

..and the so-precious-it-can't-actually-be-used mug, which is pleasing in colour and shape and was made by my late grandmother - it was the one I always used when we went there (she made most of their mugs) but I simply can't use it because I would be so heart-broken if something happened to it.

What about cups?

cups: fruit juice/squash/plastic for little kids/beakers with lids/pint glasses for DS/stupid shaped cups that have no use and I should get rid of.

aaah, well we have tea cups that only come out for 'tea parties' when there will be lots of people (so the tea goes further than with the mugs) or when I want the table to look really pretty and everything matching. My mum gave me the tea cups and saucers.
We also have a giant tea cup and saucer as our fruit bowl

Cups other than espresso ones just get recycled - we simply don't use them, ever.

I think I am raising 2 more nutters nice normal people, though - the DC have a whole hierarchy of plastic cups going

Absolutely a mug hierarchy, how can you not have?

My very favourite in the world are these type from M&S. I have 5 different sets and I really wish I hadn't linked to that page because I've seen three more sets that I want!

If I ever run out of those, which I never will, then my next favourites are the Starbucks mugs. I like a good, thick, heavy big mug. DH is the opposite and likes bone china. Bone china makes me shudder so we will never use each other's mugs. Visitors can have what they like as long as there is an M&S mug left for me!

No hierarchy but if people have tea or coffee together they must have a pair of matching mugs. If one has tea nad one has coffee they can be different.

If there is a group then the coffee drinkers have matching mugs and the tea drinkers have a cup and saucer.

That is the right way.

I like matching-but-different ones when making loads of teas and coffees at once so I can remember which has how much sugar in it

Argh... just been in the kitchen to get DS a drink of milk and its just dawned on me....

I'm raising another mug nutter!

I just poured milk into his Thomas the Tank plastic 'glass' and he said 'No Mummy! Its milk, it goes in my green toy story cup!' (and gave me the 'you're an idiot' face)

Now I've thought about it, at 3.7yrs he has:
A thomas the tank plastic 'glass' for juice
A green toy story plastic mug for milk
A small toy story 'grown up' mug for hot chocolate

He's going to hold it against me when he's older, isn't he!?

How strange, I was just thinking about this the other day. I have several mugs that I like to use, a couple that are DH's, some that I tend to give visitors, and a few more miscellaneous ones. Within those categories, there are hierarchies. My current favourite has a photo of my DD on it and the caption I love Mummy (also biskits). My DH had it made online as a Christmas present :)

I have a very large morning mug

here

Then my Portmeirion mug I did have 4 now down to one.

The denby stoneware mugs are for guests okay but not too nice.

Then various birthday mugs which are for workmen.

I only threw out a Nessie mug which from DP previous partner. Hurrah its gone!

I had some bone china Cath mugs but my DS smashed them in the Belfast Sink :(

Now I`m after either a Sophie Conran box set or Pip Studio plain or pretty over to you ???

I get mug-related twitchiness if I see someone drinking water from a mug Mugs must only be used for hot drinks.

This is funny! I thought I was unique in having 'my' mugs, I dont let anyone else use them and I have different ones for my mood ie bad mood - usually morning mug: large grey Denby ; good mood mug: small cuddly hand made pottery one i got on holiday; tired mug: small pink mug that makes me feel sleepy just looking at it (odd moi?) And anyone else can help themselves to the bog standard other ones!

I speeet on anyone who gives me a cup and saucer. I mean, ffs

:o

Oooh brookes, that jammie dodger mug is lovely

(but would have to find a matching pair-but-not-the-same-maybe-custard-cream for DH)

OMG!!!

Just looked - they are all there !!
Bourbourn, rich tea, custard cream!!

(We have had to institute a one in-one out rule)

Oh, and within my Cath Kidston (growing) flowery mug collection there is a 'who gets what' hierarchy...
I will never divulge the order but people do get their brew in a specific mug based on how 'worthy' they are...

DH put some habitat mugs he really hated in a bag to take to the charity shop.

While trying to unlock car (very sticky key) he dropped said bag on the drive. Funny how such a smashing sound was soooo saisfying........

Tee hee! Of course we have a mug hierarchy - I actually think there is something a bit odd if I ask "does it matter which mug I use" and the answer is "no - any one you like"!!

We all have our own mugs (at least 2 each), even the dcs, and then there are the rest for communal use...

My Dh too has a special mug for lemsip, and I have had a perfect rice measuring mug from childhood and was devastated when it got chipped. I have 2 mocha mugs, 2 filter coffee mugs, and a hot chocolate mug. Dh has BIG tea mugs.

Plus we have a collection of mugs which we have come by in various ways, and can't for whatever reason deliberately get rid of, but which are subjected to any high-risk beverage drinking going (outdoors, builders, while painting etc.)until such time as they move on to continue their useful lives as garden crocks...

For me, it isn't about posessiveness, but about running the risk of someone else breaking my 'perfect' drinking recepticle. Or it not being available for me to use when I want a drink

It's not just you!

I have a strict hierachy, DH thought I was being snobby until an outside workman dropped one on his china Dunoon mugs. It's not snobbish but pratical to give people working outside cheap earthenware mugs so nobody minds if they're broken.

I have my own mug at work too!

Dh handed me a cup of tea in the wrong mug a couple of days ago and while I was seething I wrote an AIBU post in my head. I'm so pleased I'm not the only one. I have a morning coffee mug, a lunchtime tea mug and an evening tea mug. Dh never gets it right but I can't kill him as I don't think I've ever explained it to him. I've been known to pour tea from one cup to another if it's in the wrong one and I have a friend who I can't drink tea with because her mugs are all wrong!

barmbrack - DH has tried and failed to impose a "one in, one out" - mostly failing because other people keep giving us (especially the DC) mugs - which makes it even harder for me to acquire objects of particular desire

Glad you like them too barmbrack totally my DP is a Chocolate Digestive Type though that purchase will have to wait until Fathers day.

I totally agree with the one in one out rule. I would point out that my MIL buys everything in sixes including mugs she has a whole cupboard full. Your eyes would be like saucers looking at them lot !