A comment I hear often when selling my products in person is: “They’re too pretty to use.”
My response? “They work too well not to.”
At Minnie and Moon, our products that are made to be used—daily, joyfully, and without fuss. They’re designed to stand up to the beautiful chaos of a real, vibrant home. These aren’t delicate showpieces to be tucked away for someday. That said, I get it—kids, pets, muddy hands, baking marathons, and backyard gardening can make us a little selective about what we use and when. But let’s take a closer look at this idea that we should save the “good stuff.”
In my home, I don’t save the good stuff. I eat off my Lenox china every single day. Is it snobby, maybe, but it’s the only set of dishes I own. I still remember the salesperson in the store banging the plates together to show how tough they were. Yes, they’re beautiful, but it was the durability that sold me.
I’ve had those dishes for 29 years. Those plates have held everything from high-chair meals with toddlers to holiday festivities and backyard picnics. I’ve put them in the dishwasher thousands of times. Only one teacup has lost its handle in all that time. The gold rims? Still gleaming. And even if they had worn down a little—would that really be so bad? A bit of wear seems fair for all the memories they’ve carried.
Still, I hear people say they never use their good china. I see full sets sitting unclaimed on local Buy Nothing groups. No one seems to want them anymore, and I can’t help but wonder: Are we really better off with cheap, nearly disposable dishes instead? Especially when these gorgeous, high-quality pieces are practically being given away?
Using the good stuff turns everyday moments into something a little more meaningful. There’s something about using items we love, that we care for, that were made to last. They invite us to treat our homes, and ourselves, with a little more reverence.
Maybe it’s time to stop saving the good stuff. Maybe this is the special occasion.