(And Why Things Matter)

We are often told that things are not important, but rather that people and experiences are. I think that statement is a bit flawed. People and experiences certainly are of the utmost importance, but that does not negate the fact that things, possessions if you will, are of great significance in our lives. 

With the holiday season upon us and gift giving being a big part of the tradition this time of year, I thought I’d write about the importance of things in our lives, and some things that are my favorites (at least, for now).

Like many of you, I love beautiful things-things that bring a smile to my face and warmth to my heart. These objects usually do not have to have great monetary value, though some do, but they mean something to me. Perhaps they evoke sentimental value or they help me to create a certain ambiance in my home or a certain look in my appearance. These items oftentimes bring me comfort as well. Sometimes things can make us feel grounded or at home. Think of some of the items you associate with your childhood or with significant times in your life. Why do you hold onto them? Often it’s because when we look at or hold that item, we can feel, once again, what we felt the first time that item came into our lives. Other items help us curate our world -Your favorite mug (the one that holds just the right amount of tea or coffee and sits perfectly in your hands) your coziest sweater (the one you change into as soon as you get home) your favorite purse (the one with the pockets in just the right places).

Here is a list of my favorite things and why I love them:

My Furniture

There is a reason why we decorated our bedrooms as teens and why cavemen drew on walls. We want to make our spaces our own. Most of the furniture in my home consists of pieces I have found on someone’s curb before garbage pick up or bought used and that I have personally refurbished. I spent a lot of time and energy finding and fixing each piece and each one serves to create the home I always imagined. I like vintage pieces with character. My dream house is the one Sally and Gillian Owens inhabit in Practical Magic. I like to think I have created my own version of that home over the last almost thirty years of furniture refurbishing. When I look around my house, I take great pride in what I have accomplished. I see art. I see creativity. I see hard work, and it brings me joy.

My Wardrobe

I happen to be quite tall for a female (5’11”) and when I was growing up manufacturers did not consider my demographic. I had to buy clothes in the men’s department or wear ill-fitting clothes from the women’s department. Today, specialty stores exist online and bigger companies now offer many versions (but not all!) of their products in taller cuts. As such, I am now the proud owner of clothes that are cut to fit me and getting dressed is actually pleasurable. I still opt for comfort, but stylish comfort (at least, in my book). Corduroys, desert boots and a cotton sweater, all in neutral tones, are my go to. My most favorite piece recently is a vintage Woolrich jacket that I thrifted (which miraculously fits!). Every time I put it on I feel like I’m in an episode of The Gilmore Girls and I’m off to Luke’s diner with my favorite read to grab a cup of coffee. Yay!

My Dinnerware

I recently thrifted a dinnerware set from Aux de Provence. It is cream with a forest green-colored image of a rooster on a farm. I scored a set of four soup bowls, four dinner and salad plates and eight tea cups and saucers – all for twenty dollars! Every time I eat a meal off of those plates I am in my dream world – somewhere between the house in Practical Magic, a farm in France and home in rural Ireland. It’s fall and the leaves are falling and I am in my home feeling rustically elegant (if that’s a thing) and very fortunate. Super cozy!

My Eyeglasses

I have worn glasses since I was in the third grade. I have tried every type of style imaginable, but it wasn’t until Warby Parker came around that I could really afford a cool, trendy looking pair (actually, I have two – one in deep green which gives off a very “I’m a professor” vibe, the other in pale pink that has a hint of late 70s/early 80s flair). Because I wear them on my face every single day of my life, my glasses mean a lot to me. They need to be comfortable and I need to love wearing them. These days, I do. Each day I decide which pair will go better with my ensemble and my choice helps to perfect my look. Thank you Warby Parker!

My Bookmarks

I am and will always be a reader. Books are one of my “things”, but I don’t often buy them anymore. I simply do not have the room for them and I like to do my part to keep the public library system alive. I do have room, however, for bookmarks and they really add to my reading experience. Recently, I started making felt bookmarks. I love the process of creating them and the result. They make a cozy experience even cozier and because I have designed them, they are totally my vibe. If you’d like a felt bookmark of your own, you can buy one here.

My Jewelry

I don’t have a lot of “real” jewelry, but I love what I own. Of course my wedding band and engagement ring hold the most value in every sense of the word, but I also love a gold bracelet I was gifted by my mother and a set of pearl and diamond earrings, ring and a necklace I received upon graduating from college. Over the years and through my travels, I have also purchased a clattagh ring and earring set I really like, as well as a Fossil watch I wear every day. Someone else might not even notice these items, but they mean a lot to me and I feel beautiful when I wear them. I also don’t feel fully “dressed” unless I have a pair of earrings in my ears. The entire point of jewelry is to decorate one’s self and I take great pleasure in decor of any kind.

Art (Namely Music and Film)

Where would I be without music? I play it every chance I get: while cleaning, driving, getting ready for work. Despite my lack of talent, I sing as much as I can (oftentimes creating original lyrics based on my own family to classic songs). When I listen to music I am transported to specific times and places pertaining to my life. It reminds me of loved ones I have lost. It reflects and affects my mood. It motivates me. It soothes me. It inspires me. I can’t imagine a life without it.

The same can be said of many of my favorite films/shows. When I’m cooking Italian food, on goes Moonstruck. I have watched it so many times that I have the script memorized! Making a pot of fall soup, it’s time for Practical Magic or a few episodes of Gilmore Girls. I love the sets and costumes, which have inspired my home decor and personal wardrobe. The people behind these shows are artists, and I truly appreciate their creations.

What are some of your favorite things? Why do you hold them so near and dear to your heart? I’d love to hear what you have to share in the comments.