Youse Guuuuuyyyyyssss!!!!
This is an Office Valet. I’ve wanted one for the last year. When I was dropping Trena’s serger off at ‘THE’ repair shop, they had this one on sale. For $25. And, they delivered it to my house.
Best of all? It’s a Gingher branded product. I didn’t even know they were based in Pennsylvania. Scranton. Heh. Can you hear Scranton without thinking about the US version of The Office? I assume Gingher gave them out to companies who sold their product.
I’ll use it for guests since my hall closet is stuffed with all my coats (and some new additions from my new housemate)
I spotted one of these at a city government building back in April and immediately started searching for them on line. They were popping up online. For $225. I tried to get the agency to surplus it to me. They were not having it. So, big old SCORE for ME!
Things are moving along here at Casa Rosensamuelfeld. Still looks like a hoarder house as we merge two households. There is way more laundry now and the food bill has doubled… In (my) big news, I decided not to change my name. I tried out a second last name for three weeks and it just seemed strange to me. Maybe because I married older. Maybe because it was the name I was born with and it felt so odd to be referred to by a different name. The Husband was like, ‘it’s your name. Do you want you want. I wouldn’t want to change my name.’ I’m attached to my name not just because it’s mine. But, also because it’s a very British name. And, Jamaica (my father’s home country) was a UK territory. My mom’s maiden name is a very Scottish name. Which speaks to Grenada being settled by the Scots. My last name to me speaks to our history as Caribbean people. So, I kept it. Trust, I wont’ be upset by being referred to as Mrs. R. I think it’s cute. But, legally, professionally and mostly socially, I’m keeping my name. Plus, I have years and years to change my mind again 🙂
Miss Celie's Pants 
What a beauty!!!! You lucky girl! Keep your name…you started with it!
When I first got married I hyphenated my name. Then I shortened my married name – unhyphenated it. That’s where it stands now even though I’m divorced because it made it easy for the teachers to put a parent with a child. You should definitely do what makes you happy. And the merging of the households will take awhile…that’s okay too! So glad that you’re happy!
My mom also hyphenated for the first few years. Then, eventually dropped her maiden name. My dad said change — he seemed confused I would do anything else. My mom said keep my name, LOL! I would definitely like to have the same last name as my child. But, we are SO NOT there yet 🙂
Any girl children get mom’s last name. Any boy children get dad’s. The unused last name can become a middle name if you like. (That’s what good friends of mine did and they have both a boy and a girl.) And good for you for not taking a chattel name.
That valet looks fabulous – great score!
As regards names I think Shakespeare had it about right. Do whatever suits you both. You are the ones that matter.
Plus, you won’t have to change names on your driver’s license, your voter registration, your passport, your Social Security card, etc. etc.
I, too, lust for office fixtures. We get a couple of catalogs nearly every day here at the church office. Nice rack, lady! (HAHAHAHAHA!)
Rosensamuelfeld has such a catchy ring to it. Easy to spell, easy to pronounce, etc. Actually my married surname has a tricky spelling and it it mispronounced 95% of the time. The day I got married my s-i-l warned me that I had let myself in for a lifetime of “No that’s not right; there’s another r in there.” So far she has been spot on. My maiden name, also not easy, never suffered the indignities. Wish I’d kept it.
I do love your bargains. You always score. Keep it up. And happy married days to you both.
Oh, that was the other thing. My maiden name is easy. I discovered that people thought it was “Roosevelt”. I get that *my* saying Rosenfeld was confusing…. 🙂
I kept my name too. It took my mother 10 years to finally get that addressing letters to Mr & Mrs &@$# was not amusing. Another five years before she stopped doing it. My sister still doesn’t get it, but she can’t spell my first name either…
My FIL was curious but accepting, MIL puzzled. When we had our first child (daughter) she said “she could keep her surname too! Then the family name will go on.” Too her relief we had a son next.
We’ve been married almost 20 years, I still use my name, always will. I occasionally forget to put on my wedding ring, so does he. Doesn’t affect our commitment and love. I sometimes get questioned about it, and using feminist arguments never works. Using the aesthetic one does. His name just didn’t suit me and felt weird.
The hallway stand is cool.
We thought we “were so not there yet” when we registered to get married and each intended to keep our names for the time being… Turns out I was pregnant so we chose a “family name”. We chose mine because I have a rare, well-sounding name while his was a lot more “pedestrian”. DH also kept his “maiden” (??) name as an artist’s alias, in the passport and all, because he’s a musician. Best of both worlds, right? Turns out everyone called him by the family name anyway, and he was confused how to introduce himself, so we all carry my name now, all four of us 🙂
What a great find. And who knew that Gingher was in Scranton. Jeeze – but Scranton had a LOT of manufacturing at one time. The name thing is just too confusing – I never changed and it simplified my life immensely.
“I never changed and it simplified my life immensely” This, is why I love you Toby!
Love the hallway stand too! I kept my name as well – husband never questioned me not wanting to change it – he didn’t want to change his, why would I want to change mine? Our kids have his surname, but my surname is their middle name. And everyone at school etc knows which kids belong to who without them having to have the same name. Do what works for you and what feels right – it’s great that we all have options!
I changed my name but kept my maiden name as a middle name since that kept continuity on my ORB (Officer Record Brief). And girl, just what are you doing with a U.S. Army female officer’s “pot” hat on your coat rack? I still have mine. It was much nicer than the beret that replaced it.
Ha! Good eye! That was my mom’s! I kept it after she retired. I thought it would be a great keepsake. I did not love the berets. And, to be honest, I didn’t love the move from BDUs to Woodland/ Desert camos. That said, I can still remember her wearing fatigues! This had was in my closet the last three years and now I have a way/ place to display it.
It never occurred to me to change my name. But, since he is the second son and his older brother already had 2 boys, and my family didn’t have any sons, I was miffed he didn’t take my last name. My father dropped hints, b/c that’s a Chinese tradition, but Bad Dad didn’t catch on.
It’s just as well b/c we go by Mr Y or Dr Y and Ms X or Dr X. Can you imagine how confusing it would be to have two Dr Ys in the household? I usually go by Ms X. But, if someone calls me Mrs Y, I smile sweetly and tell them to please call me Dr X.
I tried the hyphenated thing for a while, but then I realized that people couldn’t manage to spell either of the names right, so I just shortened it to my husband’s name. At least that way I can say “you spell it like such and such” so that they get it right (sorta). Of course then they ask if I’m related and get a discount….
Anyway, it’s your name, and since your hubby seems OK with you going either way, I say do as you will. The tricky part will come when you start having kids, but you can cross that bridge when you get there. 🙂
I suggested going the British route and both hyphenating. He was not down 🙂
LOL! I can imagine so! Men are funny like that. 😉
I decided as a wee girl that I loved my Slavic last name and none would ever compare. And like your husband, mine didn’t mind me keeping my surname (if it had, well…no bueno) and didn’t want to change his to mine. Our son has my name as a middle name so I’m content that my name takes part in his identity like it did mine.
So yeah, totally makes sense to do what works for you.
My niece and her husband both chose to use the same hyphenated last name, but they placed his last name to the left of the hyphen and her maiden name to the right. She’d been married before to a man whose last name was the same as her maiden last name. It just so happens that her first and second husbands also have the same first name. Confusing, huh? My niece and her second husband have a young child that goes by the hyphenated last name, but the little girl doesn’t have a middle name.
I’m totally with the masses here. Keep whatever name makes you happy. When I got married my then husband made a BIG deal about me changing my name until I finally did it. Then when we divorcing he had the nerve to get all in a tizzy when I wouldn’t change it back. I agree with Carolyn, it defiantly made it easier when it came to dealing with my daughter and school. Except teachers, doctors and the like refer to me as Mrs. until I tell them that the Mrs. is some other unfortunate lady and I am just Ms.
~Renae
“until I tell them that the Mrs. is some other unfortunate lady”, hahahaha! That, is brilliant!
I didn’t change my name until I was pregnant – the hospital I was having my son at had a policy that all the information would be the same last name as what was on the mother’s health card. And since my son is the only grandchild on all sides of the family, I knew we were going to get a ton of calls/visitors looking for Baby Husband’s Name – and they wouldn’t remember my maiden name.
Back when I was married and kept my own name (1972) it was a LOT less common. I got a lot of people questioning why I got married at all, was it legal to keep my own name, etc. When we got pregnant the plan was to use my name as middle and his as last for a boy, or his name as middle and mine as last if it was a girl. We had 2 boys, so both have the same middle name (mine) and last name (his). It made it a little easier for them at school, I guess.
When my sons married, name change was not an issue. Both daughters-in-law kept their names as a matter of course, and there was never any issue. I don’t know what the plan is for children. If I ask I’m accused of pressuring them for grandchildren. 😉
I changed my name because my maiden name was “Hand” and I hated ALL the jokes. I don’t regret it, but I do regret not giving HAND to my children as their middle name. I think the office valet is awesome. Enjoy all of it
Hi,
Chose a wedding gift at Amazom but your registry didn’t post an address. I would love to show how much I have loved and appreciated your blog over the years and wish you the best in your new married life!
Kim Johnson in El Cerrito, CA.
Ps. Changed my name twice. Kept maiden as middle name for myself and son this last time 😉
Love the valet!
I kept my name mostly because I hate paperwork. I never imagined the complications later. Is the reservation under Hislastname or Mylastname? Which name is the gas bill under? Who started the newspaper subscription? Also now that we have kids I am saying things like “this is Ms. Mylastname calling about my son, John Hislastname,” which can get annoying. But generally it is not a big deal.
My husband didn’t object to me keeping my name, but he HATES it when people call him Mr. Mylastname.
I kept my last name, DH thought it was a good idea. Since we had kids, I’ve answered to almost name; including Mrs. Sarah’s Mom.
Forgot to mention: I love the valet. Now I *need* to have one.
I’m from the Scranton area (WIlkes-Barre actually which is 30 minutes south) and to be honest: The Office perfectly captures the zeitgeist of that region. I left for college and never went back!
P.S. no relation to the scissor brand, they are owned by Fiskars
I’m so relieved I don’t have to try to change your last name in my head! I feel like that’s the hardest part, getting everyone who knew you by your name forever to get used to the new one. For co-workers, it takes about 3 years before everyone finally remembers. The valet is so mid-century chic! I can see why you had to have it.
Renee- you are so totally right to keep your name, and leave your options open. I kept mine for the few years before the bundle of joy arrived, then I caved. Trena is right, coworkers will continue to use your original name ad infinitum, and will greet new hubby as Mr. Celie for the foreseeable future. Your hubby is cool with your name, mine was a bit unhappy about that fact that I kept mine. So, whatever works and keeps harmony going….