Choices - the good the bad...and the ugly?!?

We have too many choices in this country...way too many!!! How many times have you gone out to dinner, only to look at the menu and not know what you should choose because there are too many things you like (or dislike)? How many different vehicles have you owned (or wished you owned)? The more I look around, the more I realize that there are too many things...and they all pretty much look the same, act the same, or serve the same purpose. Why? Why do we have so much when people in other countries (and in certain parts of our own country) don't have anything??

What led me to think this? We have been shopping for things we need for the new house lately. We need to purchase appliances, light fixtures and carpets among other things. Here's a perfect example...when we were at the appliance store, we not only could buy our dishwasher in 4 different colors...stainless, black, white or almond...but we could buy it with stainless interior - or not, controls on the outside - or not, ones with extra places for large quantities of dish soap - or not....and that was just one model of one particular make. This same company had about 12 different dishwashers in that series alone! Oh my goodness...it's AMAZING the choices we have!

When we went to the lighting store we looked up and were instantly overwhelmed at the number of lights overhead. Whoever thought buying lights would be such a major task?? Did Thomas Edison know his invention would get this complicated?? We were in the store for an hour before we even figured out where to look for certain fixtures. There are chandeliers, pendents, flush mount, sconces, lanterns, lamps, lights with fans, bathroom fixtures and foyer lights...to name a few. When you finally realize where you want to hang your light fixture (on the wall, the ceiling, under a cabinet, free standing etc.), you need to decide what style you want...Mission/Craftsman, contemporary, country, Mediterranean, nautical, crystal, European, Asian, art glass or rustic. Then, on top of the style, you need to figure out the finish...wrought iron, bronze, brass, chrome, white, nickel etc. Are you getting the picture? It's simply overwhelming!!

We finally decided which light fixtures to purchase, but I have to say it was kind of stressful. Here are the fixtures we chose. PLEASE don't tell me if you don't like them...they're NOT going back, I'm NOT changing my mind and I will NOT listen to you...picture me like a little child covering my ears singing "la la la la la la la" at the top of my lungs. =)


Dining Room:


Foyer:



Kitchen:


Guest Bathroom (on either side of the mirror):


Kid's Bathroom:


Living Room:


Master Bathroom (with 4 lights, not 3 as shown):

Lionel's Bedroom: (by far the 'coolest' light fixture!)


Sweet-Pea's Bedroom (the most elegant girly light fixture we could find!):

So there you have it. The rest of the fixtures are just 'plain' ordinary fixtures...probably the kind Edison could picture. =) Now...we have to meet with the carpet guy to pick out bedroom carpeting. Here we go again...plush vs. berber vs. shag etc. etc. Blue, green, red, pink, white, beige, brown...the colors are endless! AAAAAaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!

Of course this is all fun...it's just unbelievable the amount of choices we have in this country!!! These are the simple ones too, so complaining is NOT an option.

By the way, we did purchase the stainless steel dishwasher with the extra soap dispenser, the controls on the outside and the stainless interior....not that you care...but at least if you come to our home for dinner one evening, you'll know who 'what' cleaned our dishes. =)

...and yes, we are thankful to the Lord for all these choices. They all belong to Him anyhow, we're just borrowing them for a while.