So I’m sitting on a pontoon at probably midnight or so with Jason and a friend and the conversation turns 
to acorns. Why, you ask? Well our friends mom collects acorns, real and fake. They are all over her house. Candles, plates, you name it, they’re everywhere. So we start talking about what people collect.
I’m sitting there and realize, I don’t collect anything!! Nothing, I have no special “thing” I like, no special “theme” in my house. I know a lot of people have themed bathrooms or themed kitchens. Not me. I’m not sure why. I used to collect dolphins but stopped that years ago. I mean I guess I have a color theme, forest green and burgundy, but that’s it.
My mother in law has her light houses and roosters. My mom has her hummels, grandma has her hummingbirds, one sister collects frogs, another sister anything animal print. Even Jason collects business cards and rocks. Does everyone do this?, am I the only one that doesn’t?? Now I feel like I should start something, but what? I like butterflies, I like the rooster theme but Joy does that so that’s out of the question. I’ve thought about collecting those “country bears” and that kinda stuff. Like the gone fishing signs, a cabin theme. I love antiques. My couch is forest green and white plaid and I have some stuff that would be considered “country themed”. My sister in law’s house is kinda like that, she’s got some of the cutest little knick knacks. Maybe I need to go shopping with her!!
So do you all collect something? Do you have themed kitchens or bathrooms? I’m starting to get a complex about this and feel like I should run out and buy a bunch of one thing, lol!!! Hey Sue, Joy lets go antiquing!!!
Us Girls..Our Views 
I thought everyone collects something but I guess not. My dad doesn’t collect anything. I collect anything that is sport related. I collect bobbleheads, autographed cards, footballs, and baseballs. I also have twins medallion collections, vikings pin collections, and a twins mini stadium baseball collection. ” Those are all special to me because the medallion,pin,and mini stadium baseball collections where all done through star tribune. I had to get a coupon out of the paper everyday and go to SA early to collect them, and there wasn’t very many at the store.”so there rare” Also the bobbleheads I have are special because they are limited also and only given away at the metrodome. Me and Eric camped out for the Kirby Puckett Hall of Fame bobblehead, we got to the metrodome at 3:00 a.m. and we didn’t get through the doors intill 10:30 so that one is special. “I don’t think I would ever sell any of those” Start collecting something Nikki!!!!
I collect shot glasses. Well… I did. I started in college… haven’t bought in a few years but I have close to 300 of them! Now I think we collect electronic toys! 🙂
I used to like that sort of thing. I feel I “grew out of it.” Well, first of all, when I was broke (most of my life), I couldn’t afford to buy many things on a whim. Too much guilt and credit card interest – not worth it. But even when I started to have the means, I didn’t really do it. I have learned a lot over the years about what’s important, and attachment to “things” really isn’t – in fact, it can actually cause problems you wouldn’t otherwise have. Sure, there’s a little thrill when you add a cool item to your collection, but then what about all the negative feelings when something breaks or gets lost? We find ourselves hollering at our kids and getting frustrated with ourselves or having heart palpitations over something that really doesn’t mean anything. How is it that people give a piece of their own heart to an object?
Now I think I take it to a bit of an extreme – I don’t even take many photos or videos of my kids’ really precious moments, because I feel like that’s about having a “thing” to prove they were cute once – and who needs to prove that? But, I try to remember that they will go through the “thing” stage as they are growing up, and will appreciate it if I keep some “special” stuff for them, so I do have a couple boxes of sentimental stuff for them – but no such thing for me.
SKL- That’s a great line: “How is it that people give a piece of their own heart to an object?” I agree that we tend to be overinvested in “stuff,” and it’s something we should keep in mind.
That said, I collect things with lizards or salamanders on them, and books.
I used to be very into Boyd’s Bears but not so much anymore. I quit that obsession a few years back thank goodness. It’s really not “me”. I guess you could say I collect wine related items – my kitchen is wine theme, I have many wine books, cute wine napkins, etc. Not anything really like rocks or bears or anything now though.
See Smilf, the wine theme. I’ve thought about that one too, but I don’t drink wine but it’s cute. I don’t NEED “things” in my life. If you know me you know I am the least materialistic person you’ll meet. I just found it odd that almost everyone I know has a themed something or collects something. Hey thanks Shane for making me feel even more abnormal:)lol
This is a great post Nikki. It’s something I’ve really never give a lot of thought to. I have collected so many things over the years. When I was a child, I collected gum wrappers and made those “chains” out of them. I also collected marbles and rocks and perfume bottles.
I’ve collected thimbles, salt and pepper shakers and yes, my lighthouses. I do have a “rooster” kitchen and that happened by accident. It started with my puzzle. I have this huge 2000 piece puzzle that’s shaped like a rooster and in the puzzle are little “farm” scenes and I didn’t have the heart to take it apart. It took me so long to put that thing together so I glued it and hung it in the kitchen and just slowly kept adding them. Sue’s mom has roosters too but I didn’t care. I think the rooster thing is now done. I have no more room and the next time I redecorate, I’ll start something new I suppose.
Nikki, if you want to do roosters, you should. The only ones who will see it is “us” how often is that? Most of the people who go to your house don’t come here so they won’t even know. There are so many things and I have no more room. Just because someone else has a “theme” doesn’t mean you can’t have the same one. I find it kind of flattering and you already have those great dishes that I want to come in and steal while you sleep!! LOL!
The only thing really, that I keep are my lighthouses and my wind up clocks. I have over 40 wind up clocks. I love the sound they make but just don’t display them in my house anymore, they are all in my room.
SKL, I’ve never looked at it like you. I just like something and then my husband, my dad or my kids add to it and before I know it, it’s a collection and most of the stuff I’ve done over the years are boxed up or given away. I guess I like the “hunt.” Clocks are the best. I’ve been to flea markets and auctions. Hardly any of them are brand new. I like the old ones. Also, about your kids pics, I don’t think you need to prove how cute they were but “their” kids will get a kick out of seeing pics of mom when they were little. I don’t feel it has anything to do with cute. My grandchildren love to see pics of their dad’s from when they were little. Also, I feel it gives them a sense of “oh, remember this and remember when we did that?” Some things get forgotten and it is nice to go back sometimes in our minds. I find pictures help you do that.
I guess I don’t really collect anything. I do however have a ton of those Christmas villages that I put up around the holidays. I guess I got hooked on those villages because of my Grandma. Other than that, I have no special theme in my house. Just a lot of bare walls!
I wanted to add one more thing. Part of “collecting” to me is the memory I have of it. Example: I got a rooster on my road trip with my brother to WA to see Eric and Tessa and we were in this little tiny “town” called Ritzville and this little “store” was next to the gas station. I begged him to go in with me and here were all these roosters. I picked out a few things and we were paying and the TV was on and they were announcing the Virginia Tech shootings. When I see that rooster, I think of my brother and that moment. I’m not ever sure I see the rooster. Does anyone know what I mean?
LOL Joy that is so funny!! Do I have to lock up my dishes??? Actually those were given to me by my mom when she moved so I didn’t even buy those. I forgot about all your clocks. I can remember you going around and winding each one!!
Yes Joy I know what you mean. The moment you were in and the memory you have really has nothing to do with the actual item, but you think about that moment when you see that rooster. Makes perfect sense to me.
Yes Nikki, I covet those dishes. They are great!
I love old books. The way they look, the way they feel, even the way they smell. I have old books on display in my house, but I’m not constantly on the hunt for more. Most of the books I’ve received have been by accident.
As sick as it sounds Kweenmama, I like the way old books smell too.
I think about that alot. My house has no theme.. I have very few things in this house that aren’t needed actually.. I don’t really have decorations or anything in my house.. I don’t collect anything. At one time I collected bears and porcelain dolls but havent since having kids.
I wouldn’t call what I have a collection of anything! I like the garden theme so those are my little knick knacks, but they’re all different. I guess now that I think of them, most of them are from Yankee Candle so maybe I collect stuff from there! I don’t think I have a theme either and have been trying to decorate in some way for the past couple of years. (Since I started crafting!!!) I’m not big on antiques, but I sure like the craft shows!
Joy, there is a reason that I have never until recently collected anything aside from jewelry. That is, that I have never in my adult life felt like I had a permanent home, so I didn’t want to drag a bunch of stuff around the world with me.
But a few years back – a neighbor (who really couldn’t afford to do this) gave me a gift for christmas. They were a couple struggling with 3 small kids, so I used to bake for them all of the time and fix their computers etc. Anyway… Christmas comes and there is this box. It was with a bottle of wine and it was the shape of a triangle. I never ever gave it much thought, as I thought it was a box of chocolates (customary gift) and I was trying hard to stay on my food plan.
So, christmas nearly ends, and i see this single unwrapped gift under the tree. i opened it dreading the box of chocolates in the house. But it wasn’t chocolate at all. It was a swarofski crystal snowflake ornament. Its a prism of color and beauty. The thing cost this couple alot of money. I was so touched I started to cry. I loved how it looked so much on my tree, I turned to my husband and said, everyone wants to know what I collect, there you go right there. So every year he buys me the current year’s ornament. And he’s purchased every back dated ornament from the time we have been together. Now my tree sparkles and shines every single year. Their ornament though is in the very front. It is my favorite.
Another themeless house here. 🙂 I used to collect coins and books, but got out of the habit several years ago. Now I’m just happy to visit the library, donate crap and reclaim room in my house! lol!
I know exactly what you mean about memories Joy. Like that Kirby Puckett bobblehead, I remember that night like it was yesterday and when I see it I think of Eric. When I look at my John Elway stuff I think of you.
I do see your point, Joy. I used to have a lot of stuff like that. Growing up in a small house with a big family, it was a major accomplishment to possess and preserve anything for any period of time, so I feel it maybe had even more meaning for me, at least for some time. On the other hand, maybe that is how I learned not to become attached to things – because things tended to have a short lifespan. Then again, maybe it was the big changes in my life that made things lose their sentimental value. I’m really not sure. But I know that I have no urge to collect things now.
I agree about the pictures – and my kids are in no danger of being picture-less, mainly due to a friend who takes hundreds of photos every month. But when it’s just me and my kids, I rarely go running for the camera. I didn’t record a lot of their “firsts,” for example.
You know I really dont have a needy thing!!!! I do have a semi theme in my bathroom, and my sons room. Should I? I called nicole many times, as I was trying to plan for things in my house, and I still really done have anything. I have a few wine things in my kitchen. I have burgeny, humter green, creams, and tans.
Shot spelling error again!!! Must be tired!