Monday, January 6, 2014

Mugs When It's Cold


today/tomorrow's forecast for my zip code in Washington, DC

It's literally freezing in much of the United States right now and temperatures are expected to drop dramatically through the day, so let's start this post off on a serious note: if you see people outside in the cold, call your local hypothermia hotline to get them help.  (In DC, the number is 1800 535 7252.)  On the slightly lighter side of things, though...


Anyway, you'e not here to talk about Donald Trump.  You're here to talk about mugs - and I don't mean that in the British slang sense of the word, I promise, though it is an appropriate coincidence!

You know how some of the things you grew up with stick with you no matter how old you get or how much you become your own person?  I don't necessarily mean in a behavioral or moral sense - more in terms of how you make or define a home.  So, for instance, maybe there were scented soaps in every bathroom in the house in which you were raised and you make sure to stock up for your own home now because in your mind that's part of being a gracious hostess to any guests who might drop by.  Well, the kinds of mugs my parents had when I was a child absolutely inform my mug purchases now.

Of course Mom and Dad had good china for special occasions and when company came over, but the mugs that we used on a daily basis fell into one of these categories:

- free or on sale (like from a professional conference or on clearance after a holiday)
- silly/childish (cartoons make hot chocolate taste better and funny sayings make caffeine work faster)
- sentimental (along the lines of "World's Greatest Whatever")
- tourist tat (bought at a cultural attraction in another city or country)

I can't think of a mug that my parents have in that cupboard that didn't check one or more of those boxes.  Moreover, I can't think of a single mug they had that was purchased simply because it was pretty.

Therefore, even though the preppy/bohemian look of those Anthropologie monogram mugs is lovely and I admire the artistry of hand-painted patterned mugs and the twee in me sort of wants a set of Cath Kidston mugs and I think the trippy geometrics of Jonathan Adler mugs are very cool, you won't find any of them in my house.  Instead, these are the sorts of mugs I'd go for...

mugs



I started my mug collection at my apartment with a set of six plain white mugs - these, on the middle shelf on the lefthand side of the righthand door - and it's grown with the two sweet transatlantic mugs that Beth gave us,  but you can expect to see ones like those above as I add more to the cupboard over time.  That being said, I will absolutely claim the prettiest mug you have if you ever invite me over for tea!  

 photo 866de425-8336-4c63-9efd-1c4dd8bf0e62_zpsafe0d56b.jpg

25 comments:

  1. Come on over for tea next time you are in NYC!

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  2. I have a slight obsession with mugs (and glassware). I have no idea where it came from either. My preferences have more to do with shape though. For no logical reason, I'm not a fan of the traditional shaped mug,even though I own a bunch--one for every sports team you know. I prefer mine to vee in a bit or be rounded. I'm currently out of mug room so I have to slow down a bit. One thing is true though, if you come over to my house, you're not going to find a matching mug.

    Also, SO COLD here today. Wind chill feels like it's -30 (Fahrenheit!) and that is too cold for me no matter what. Coldest day in over 100 years. I'm in my office wearing a ski coat like a blanket, wringing my hands every few minutes to warm them up, and wishing I had stayed home like the majority of my office (actually really wishing the university had just closed already.) I could definitely use a warm cup of chai tea about now!

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  3. I loveeeeeee the labrador mug! although admittedly it could be improved by featuring a pretty chocolate lab instead of those boring black ones. ;) If it didn't cost so much to ship internationally I'd be snapping one up as a present for my dad.

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  4. Both Scott and I are obsessed with coffee mugs. Even though we have fifty thousand bajillion mugs {only a slight exaggeration}, we keep getting more. Current favorite is a mug made of a leaning stack of mad tea party cups from Alice and Wonderland.

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  5. I'm so glad other people are slightly obsessed with mugs - I'd fill our cupboards to the brim with them if I could get away with it. So many possibilities! And there's really nothing like opening it in the morning and seeing one from a little getaway or an in-joke. Especially in this weather!

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  6. My favorite mug was a 22nd birthday present. It's cute, but the main reason I like it is because it holds more liquid than a normal mug. I like an extra-large cup of hot tea each morning! Other favorite mugs include the one I painted myself at a "paint your own pottery" studio and the color-changing pixelated heart, a gift from Beau. :)

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  7. I cannot even with Donald Trump. You'd think the toupee alone would possess enough IQ points to skip a statement like that.
    Mugs! I do have some Anthro ones. We got the letter variety, both our initials and L-O-V and E for our wedding (for the guestbook pens). Now whenever Lauren, Owen, Veronica and Eric come over, they're stoked.
    (I only know a Lauren.)

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  8. I should have brought you a mug. I've got an extra shelf-full. I judge mine on shape, though… and I'm not fond of the traditional straight-sided cylinder. But that's what people give me.
    ANYWAY, you had me all excited that you really owned a Dukakis mug. And I "voted" for him in our elementary school election. We even sat on Bush and Dukakis sides of the school bus. (Yes. I realize looking back how weird that was.)


    Also I hate Donald Trump. For many reasons, but FOR SCOTLAND.

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  9. Still not a chocolate, but http://www.emmabridgewater.co.uk/en/uk/seconds-sale/seconds-black-labrador-12-pint-mug/invt/2lab010002

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  10. Also I did not know Anthro was where those letter/initial mugs came from. (Admittedly, it's been… 7+ years since I've been in an Anthro?) But they remind me of Moorland Pottery mugs. Those are fun.

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  11. I don't actually own a Dukakis mug, but I voted for him in '88! (really - I went into the booth with my mom and very proudly announced to the whole polling station when we came out that I'd voted for Dukakis. haha!)

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  12. you wanna tell Charlie he's boring? woe unto you if he tries to prove you wrong! haha

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  13. I always buy too many mugs especially when I travel, I always come home with a mug and a magnet. I'm having a doozy of a time pairing down my mug collection for the move... it's not easy!

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  14. So true about setting up house, when I moved into my first apartment with my best friend it took us hours to set up the kitchen because we kept saying no that is not where my mom puts it! In terms of mugs though we have a mish-mash and I love it too! I have one Cath Kidston mug that Fredrik bought me for Christmas in 2011 and I love it and am the only one allowed to use it and for tea only!

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  15. Ah I just clicked on the link you put for her mugs and I have on in that green flower pattern!

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  16. but the ones that vee in at the bottom don't contain the heat! the ones that vee in at the top do - my mom has one of those and I'm always startled by hot hot it is long after I've poured the water.

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  17. a leaning stack of mad tea party cups from Alice and Wonderland!? SHOW ME.

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  18. omg no I love the idea of having a cubpoard FULL of mugs!

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  19. oh YES extra large every time! and I LOVE those "paint your own" places - my parents have tons o' serving platters and things that my sister and I made for them over the years :)

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  20. re: The Donald - HAHAHAHA

    and that's a really sweet idea for the initial mugs! if I meet an Owen, a Veronica, or an Eric, I'll send them your way.

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  21. ah! I want this one http://www.moorlandpottery.co.uk/a-cup-of-rosie-lee-p-202.html :)

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  22. haha I totally have an exclusive mug - it's my snowman one and it can only be used by me for hot chocolate!

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  23. my dad used to bring home magnets from his business trips!

    maybe... bring some mugs over at a time? and keep the rest with a friend you trust to be sent over in batches over time? and then it will be a fun surprise to be reacquainted with all your mugs!

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  24. Even though this is my second comment about visiting DC, keep your eye out for a good DC one! Nick and I collect mugs!

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I love reading your thoughts and suggestions! Please do leave a comment so we can get to know each other better.