The China Question

Swagfest '09 (aka my engagement) continues with our latest acquisition: a Monique Lhuillier mug that I "won" at a drawing that I don't remember entering when I went to that party thing at Bloomingdale's last month. When I went to collect it last night, I expected them to just grab it from a pile that they had reserved for all the other brides-to-be who didn't actually register that night, but no, it was gift-wrapped and had my name on it and a personalized card and everything. Classy, Bloomies!

It's quite pretty, and if I were a china person I would consider her collection even though I haven't a clue how to pronounce Lhuillier correctly. But we decided against registering for china, because really, when would we ever use it and where the heck would we store it? Do couples who live in cities in apartments without formal dining rooms really need that stuff, with the matching gravy boats and all? Is our marriage doomed if we just keep eating off those same basic Crate & Barrel plates? I don't think I've been subscribing to Real Simple and Martha Stewart Living long enough to know the answer.

If I change my mind, I'm sure my Mom will give me hers. She's become quite the minimalist in her later years, and seems frustrated by her house filled with stuff (she happily gave away the dining room furniture to my niece a couple of years ago). I've actually already alerted her that I am interested in the crystal and please don't give it away to my nieces. I just have to figure out a way to get that stuff from CT to here someday...