Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

There are people who fear change and people who embrace it. I have always tended to be more of a hugger - more of an embracer of change - but the older I get the more I find I want some things - not all things, mind you, but some things to stay the same. My last post was a testament to that.

My sister - there's a gal who fears change. No - fear is not the right word, and it would make her very angry to see me use it in reference to her and she can still kick my ass - she rejects change. Her hairstyle has changed twice since high school. She graduated in 1982. And neither of those changes were dramatic, either. She likes it this way and this is the way it is and if you don't like it you can suck it. She wears uniforms. Not official uniforms, just - she finds a style that she likes and that works for her and she wears it. All the time. The uniforms have gone through several changes. There were the shiny satin shirts and black pants. Then there was the ill-advised tuxedo shirts and gym shorts. Then there were T-shirts with over-sized animal prints. Currently she sports exercise tops and scrub bottoms. Cut off or not, depending upon the season. She marches to her own drummer, for sure, but said drummer can only play one cadence at a time.

I don't dig every fashion choice she makes, but I do dig her attitude. And I'm also a little jealous of the fact that she has a definite style. This is something that is not true of me. I try to be a chameleon and generally fail miserably.

I didn't set out to talk about clothes, though, believe it or not. I set out to talk about furniture. Last weekend we did some major moving and shaking around here. My craft room is gone. Gone, ya'll. In the next couple weeks, I expect to have a wall of shelves in what is currently Tom's unused woodshop. The kids have moved into my former craft room and made it a dedicated practice space for their band. This moved the drum kit and all of the amps and ugly wires and cords out of my front room and into the band room in the basement. This has been a good change! My front room is prettier, the kids practice more because they feel freer to make mistakes in the basement than they did in the front room - it's all good. Except the whole craft room thing, but that'll work out. Don't cry for me, fellow crafters.

So change - particularly change that brings almost instant notable improvement - leaves one wanting more, no? Improvements in one room draw attention to shortcomings in another. My perfectly servicable dining table became just a big ole' pile of flaws on four legs. Legs which have been chewed on by the puppy. And our puppy is 9 1/2. Years, not weeks. 9 1/2 weeks is something different entirely. So, yeah, a new dining set would definitely spruce things up.

The folks at CSN stores had contacted me a week or so ago to ask if I wanted to host a giveaway (And I said hell yes! So watch this space!) so I decided to check their dining room furniture first. Here's the dilemma. I liked two. A lot. This one is very similar to the one I currently have, but with a top that has not been the starting point for countless kids' art projects and legs which have not been used as canine teething toys. I know if I got this table or one like it it would look good in my kitchen. It's not a change so much as an upgrade.

Then I saw this. I love this set. But it is very different from what I currently have. It's more of a gamble. Will it look good in my space? Or will I get it and decide I need new curtains? And maybe a new baker's rack... You see where I'm going? It's a change, and it might (but might not...) dictate more changes that in turn might dictate even MORE changes... Change can have a snowball effect, no doubt.

Do I want to play it safe or take a risk?

When do you take risks and when do you play it safe?

35 comments:

Allison said...

I know just what you mean, but have to say I love that second table.

When we were looking for a new couch I knew I wanted something more modern but that was going to mean change for everything else. I mean everything on our lower floor because it's all open. I made the plunge and am so glad I did. It's been a welcome change and though it's taken awhile. I say, go for it!

Unknown said...

I'm one that tends to keep things the "same" as I don't deal all that well with change. I can handle it, but only after fretting and worrying about for a while.

Can't wait to hear about your giveaway!

Vivienne @ the V Spot said...

Unless I initiate it, I usually don't like change. (Control freak? hmmm.)
Both sets are great. However, if your current decor is similar to the first set, an entire room-re-do will be necessary if you go with the second.
Change (if you initiate it;-)) is good... but some changes are actually an entire overhaul.

Cassie said...

I so love the second table. I guess I love change because I am always changing something around. Paint colors, furniture, bedding. I say go for it :o)

Mandy said...

Oh, I LOVE that second one. It's sleek, hip, more modern and just plain gorgeous! Change can be good. Embrace it. Get that new furniture set and then use your crafty skills to accessorize your new dining room/kitchen.

My life has been nothing but changes lately. But they are mostly good stuff. They make me think, reflect and experience new emotions. My suggestion is to shake it up. Start out with The Cars song if you have trouble getting started! ;-)

So I guess your sister would not be copying Lady Gaga's look then, eh? ;-) I just watched her new video, Bad Romance, and I have a female crush on her. She's just so far out there that I can't stop watching (like a train wreck but with cool shoes).

Rosa said...

HA! Change, sister. Go for it, roll with it, embrace it. It shakes things up and makes you feel all new. I'm all about the change, lord knows. I like the first set, LOVE the second set. And I think if you go for it and then, if need be, gradually change the decor around it, in the end you'll be glad you did.

Becky said...

This is one you take the risk!

You are going to LOVE this snowball effect (not your budget...but hey) You are going to get organized and redecorate and get all gung ho about your home! One thing will lead to another, but it is for the good. (I am on this path right now and it is llooonnngg and hard and expensive, and I am taking it slow, but it is so worth it! First a HUGE amish shed is being built in our back yard. This means the garage can be cleaned out, and organized, which in turn means no more white trash look of 3 cars in the driveway! Yeah! The patio furniture and trampoline in the back yard need to be broken down and stored away for winter and now can be cause we have a shed. The basement will have space free up space too which means we virtually could work on finishing it, and finish my husbands guitar room and add that bedroom so the boys don't have to share....do you see my snowball yet...is there enough in these parenthesis???)

Can you pretty please post pictures of how your sister dresses?!?! I must see now. You have gotten my curiosity up!

Joanna Jenkins said...

Interesting post. At first I thought OF COURSE I'm a risk taker!!!! But then I realized that the older I get the less risks I take-- Maybe I got it out of my system and found my groove or maybe I just got tired :-) So now I'm going to make a point o taking more risks and getting outside the box a little more.

Love the dining room sets but I had a bench once and hated it. Nobody ever wanted to it on it because there was "no back". But, oh how I love the clean lines and the look of it.

xo

Mike said...

I always seem to play it safe! Unfortunately. I hate change!

Mammatalk said...

I embrace routine and familiarity.
Just don't care for too much change.
I am trying to get better, though.
Wonder what makes us this way?

JennyMac said...

Love that table! And I oscillate between new new new (clothes/shoes) and the same (my suede sectional that I LOVE).

I love that you appreciate what change can bring. Good luck deciding and have a "new room" party when you get it all done.

Debbie said...

I like change. Especially in my house. But, with one caveat. It can't cause so much domino effect that it is too expensive!

Sandy said...

I'm pretty slow to adjust to change. I like both sets but the second one is very cool and the first is very traditional. I'd go with the second myself.

Tracie said...

I love the second dining room set! Around here change leads to more change and more and on and on. And I don't do well with chaos and upheaval.

Stacy Uncorked said...

You only live once, so you should embrace change when it's feasible. ;)

The Grown-Up Child said...

I really like the second set, but that's more in line with my personal style.

As for your question, I tend to play it safe, but when it comes to buying stuff or upgrading and such, I tend to go with my gut. What pulls me? What resonates with me? That's what I go by.

Good luck deciding!

BONNIE K said...

I'm pretty boring and tend to keep things the same. However, I took a major risk when we decided to have our deck restained and I chose a very very light color that looks white and now my whole family is making fun of me and asking how they will know if it is snowing out or not. I did like the 2nd table but I don't know if the bench would work or not.

sheila said...

Take the risk! Change is good. You never know what you're going to get from it! If you never change direction, you might end up where you're headed. : )

kanishk said...

I can handle it, but only after fretting and worrying about for a while.
Work from home India

sitting on the mood swing at the playground said...

I love the second set! I think benches look so great.

There are times when I wish I were more like your sister but I don't want to wear cut-off scrubs.

How is it I wasn't a follower before?

AiringMyLaundry said...

I'm boring so I usually always play it safe.

Sometimes I wish I could be more or a risk taker though.

Liz Mays said...

Go for a change! We're not dead yet, we're just middle aged! :)

Gibby said...

Take a risk!!! I love the second one...I always wanted a table with a bench instead of chairs. So much easier to roll off of it after a huge meal and a few glasses of wine. Not that you should use that as your deciding factor or anything.

Sandra Wilkes said...

I love the second one...and yes you'll probably need to redo other stuff but you can take your time! I actually like them both. My new one is very similar to the first one but without painted chairs. I love it too.

FranticMommy said...

I know this is a little OT..but how DOES one get approuched by a "Brand"? Inquiring minds want to know!

Traci said...

First, I have to warn that I am great at encouraging others to be risky and terrible at actually doing it myself.

But that aside, go for it girl. The first one is pretty but the second one has really got it going on! It has just the right amount of drama.

:-)

Claudya Martinez said...

Take a risk; it's furniture, not a medical procedure.

Sandra Wilkes said...

AWARD Alert! Award for you! Go get it at my place!
Sandra

Sandra Wilkes said...

AWARD Alert! Award for you! Go get it at my place!
Sandra

Mama-Face said...

First of all; i love that the style of the dining room furniture is "sitcom"! I stared at it for a moment; and that is what it actually is; the bench so you can the rest of the family when looking straight on.

That being said; I like it a lot. And yes you will probably have to change other things in your room but I think you will like that. You can do it slowly. I end up doing that all the time and I am usually pleased that I went with the total change.

As for me, when it comes to change; i like it, but it is a slow process. I have to think it over and study out what it is I want. I am pretty much that with everything. Impulsive changes rarely work for me. But I would have to say I crave changing things up. Maybe too much. I need to start working on changing from wearing jeans ALL the time to something else. Maybe sweats?

How cool is that a company like that came to you. Woot WOOT.

:) Very thought provoking post.

Mama-Face said...

gah. I left out a bunch of words and I hope you can still make sense of what I meant. :)

Macey said...

Oh, I love to take risks, however they never work out for me. See, if I used that set, I'd have to re-do a good portion of my freakin' house! But, like you, I like it too!

Anonymous said...

CHANGE IT BABY!!!

Carma Sez said...

Ohhhh...I like the Hida dining room set - very hip!! Change is good :-)

AudreyO said...

I actually do both. There are times that playing it safe works and there are times that taking chances works. I say take a chance with the furniture. If you really don't like it, you can cover it, replace it, trade it LOL