Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge: Things I Collect

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A cardboard box filled with four dairy-free boston creme donuts.
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This week’s topic was tricky for me because I’m a minimalist. I don’t own a lot of physical stuff, and almost everything I do own is used regularly and heavily.

When I go on a trip somewhere or want to treat myself, I don’t buy knick-knacks to commemorate it. Instead, I do things like:

  • Take lots of photos.
  • Try new experiences.
  • Order delicious dairy-free meals and snacks that are either unavailable at home or a bit too expensive to indulge in regularly.
  • Create vivid memories by soaking in every moment of the experience.
  • Buy a rare t-shirt, hat, socks, or some other article of clothing I happen to need that will also remind me of the good time I had there since all clothing wears out eventually.

Case in point, a few months ago I splurged on a box of vegan Boston cream donuts.

The bakery that makes them goes out of their way to source ethically produced ingredients and pay their staff fairly (which is wonderful!)

When you add all of those increased costs together, this place has to charge more than a typical bakery in order to make ends meet. So I view getting treats from them as a delightful detour from my typical diet.

The cool thing about that is how much more I appreciate them than I would if ate sugary donuts every single day of the week. And it makes my dentist happy, too.

38 Responses to Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge: Things I Collect

  1. Lydia, for some reason I can’t figure out how to reply on my own blog (I’m sure there’s some box I need to tick, but I haven’t found it yet). re:tumblers. I actually saw a post on Facebook about them…the one they were advertising just spoke to my quarantined addled heart and mind. So, I bought one. Liked their FB page. Joined their VIP group. Went to Annie’s live one night…. and the rest is history.

    re: kitchen gadget. Bob bought me a sous vide for my birthday last year… I can name make a perfect steak (which I never could before). My favorites are my Instant Pot and my Ninja Air Fryer/Toaster oven… oh, and my Food Saver! If I lost everything else in my kitchen but those four items, I would be okay.

  2. We try to visit somewhere within where we’re travelling to to try something different. Like a new bbq place or a museum. Nice job on the boston cremes. 🙂

  3. I try to buy something on trips, too. When I was younger I’d buy knick-knacky things, but that got to be too much to dust. Now, I stick with a t-shirt or a mug or even a photograph to hang on the wall for memories.

  4. When I was a kid I had many collectible phases. I collected patches (which never got sewn on anything) or spoons (which just collected dust) or rocks (which sat in a box but at least I took them out to look at them sometimes). Now? I guess I collect fountain pens and fancy ink, but I actually *USE* them so it doesn’t really feel like a collection to me.

  5. Enjoyed your post, Lydia. Supporting small businesses is essential, in my humble opinion. Thanks for sharing. 🙂

  6. Ooh this is such a fun one, I want to do this. You and I are complete opposites when it comes to this, I fear I am a bit of a hoarder. I really loved your answer though and I definitely think those things you collect are a lot more valuable and meaningful in the long run!

  7. I tend towards minimalism myself so I can totally relate to your post. The one thing I do collect on my travels is Christmas ornaments. They do not sit around collecting dust most of the year, but when I pull them out and decorate the tree for Christmas, I do a little reminiscing along the way…

  8. I’m kind of the same way, although I do own quite a bit… but a lot of them are used regularly (or close enough). I love the way that you commemorate on trips! Also Boston Cream donuts is one of my favorites to get when I can; I’m glad there’s a bakery that has vegan ones.

  9. Many excellent points about splurging on the occasional high-end treat. I am definitely a cheap-dessert-most-days kind of person who could stand a change (which would make my dentist very happy too), so this might be good inspiration.

  10. Snacks are a fabulous idea. Food, especially food local to a region, is an experience. Those donuts look so delectable, by the way. Why do I get the feeling they didn’t last long? 😉

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