YES_ we are like department stores. I say we have all kinds of stores. Some we need to have a sale-clearance out- or expand! I try to focus on what needs work and try to improve on that. Some takes more effort and lot of work. Some simply come natural.
Like “patience” that’s a huge store for me, needs a make over / revamp service. I have been working on that .
Being unkind– Store is CLOSED-
Listening– Its open 24 hours. problem I have is not to try and fix everyone simply listen.
Adventure-Umm, just had the grand opening! We are “NEW’ empty nesters” learning all over again why you fell in love with your spouse. Keeping in mind needs and wants have changes!
Time- that store has hours. set hours mostly. I set a side time for things. Like I work on certain days. Blog a few days a week. Exercise on certain days etc. you don’t set boundaries with your time line and mange it. It can easily slip away and not much is accomplished.
Laughter-It has had a facelift. I can laugh at myself now- not be to serious. So that is working progress!
Learning– WOW that should be a franchise! HA HA- The older I get he less I know .So I believe its a good thing to keep learning. Although these kids seem to know so much more then us (older crowd) with their smart phones in hand .Because they can google anything ya know-Except life experiences !!
Loving– A total OVERHUL- The kind of LOVE you have ,show and experience as you become older. I used to believe if you LOVED what others do as much, you would be ok and possibly “fit in” example like wearing clothes or listening to the music .things that we all love .As we become older, family,kids and life ,We grow out of that rather quickly. To Love a spouse, a child, a passion for something you hold dear to you, that is another entire world of LOVE. To Love another human being then yourself is a BIG DEAL. that one cant explain (not even google) for that matter. I believe we can LOVE things- but being in Love and expressing Love is another ball game folks.
Time- I think I have closed one “time store” and reopened another ..With a deeper appreciation of what time means. You hear everyone needed more time. Rarely hear what we do in the time allowed. After losing my father in law this year. I freezed wanted time to stand still. Of course it doesn’t. He knew he only had time. We made that a time count. Family and the quality of life took front and center. It made us look at life through a new windshield. How precious time is to one. I guess that is where I reiterate- How do you want to spend your time ? through social media and with people you don’t know or even care about. People are so caught up in that these days- when they cant allow time for who is with them in the moment. I see that sadly when I go out for dinner. all the ember are on their phone, not talking to each other. It totally breaks my heart to see. I would give it all up to spend time with our loved ones that are not here with us. So I guess I am trying to make the most of it now. Life is not a rehearsal there are no do overs.
What is your department stores- I would like to know ! Always up for another angle of topics!
kitchen is the ” heart” of the home ,at least for us.. When we purchased the silo,the kitchen was first up with a face lift. We needed the space to be functional and comfortable. Repurposing the cabinets were a must . Cabinets can be such an expenses, and take a big part of your budget. If you decide you are going to change out your cabinets ,always make sure you can re purpose the cabinets .Maybe in another room,or perhaps in the garage. Keep in mind a fresh cot of paint can give them a new life!
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verrated. We so do not care to be in that circle of “What everyone else is doing” We really wanted soapstone. ,after looking at he price that wasn’t goin to happen. Real butcher-block (thank you Lowes) was goin to be on the island ( main cooking apace) Our 2nd option was concrete countertops. Of course we knew nothing on them. Knowing my dad was a wiz the masonry -youtube and the power to make it work. 
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st challenge was how to cover the island and walls on a budget! That was my very own touch & project. I went to the garage and discovered I had all this lath left from dumpster diving. I had a “boat load”. Our son had most of the nails pulled out on most of it. As I started to put that up around the he island and above the sink . .my mother n law painted our cabinets. Kitchen took shape quickly! Staying in budget & repurpose was the main goal! We DID IT!! YEAH US!!
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This is an easy one for me ,Never have I been caught up in Valentines day. When I met my husband 30 yrs ago ,we both had the same outlook .We are not in favor of having a day on the calendar tell us to “do something special for our loved one” we do those things throughout the year. I cant get over the money people spend on flowers-candy -cards due to the fact a date on a calendar reminds you to ” (No wonder hallmark stays in business. ) be nice-do something sweet” for your lover! I hear the men chatter ” I get points” Points- I respond to can you imagine how many points you can get if you did it more often? I do get quite the look -for sure. 
My hubby choose a place we have enjoyed,” Topsail “l.One of the most beautiful-low crowd simple way of life in the Carolinas! We are “those people” who like to hog the quiet and take in the sounds of the ocean. Maybe read a book-take a nap- walk on the beach! Hubby is set on staying at a mom & pop place in Topsail that feels like home . Sea shell picking -here we come!
can pull it together. I am a total sucker for history and a story so my style would be just that .i want it to tell a story and have sense of comfortable. Just like a comfy old pair of jeans.I am so drawn to things that say put your feet up! No to DONE- when a room is DONE .its OVER a dead room. Swap out picture frames, pillows, a throw, new rug, maybe flowers or a new lamp .Bring it to life again. Just like we may get a new hair do or we ad highlights maybe have our nails painted boldly/ Its the same thing when decorating. Your never finished or DONE! 
A signature stamp- Mine is add a bird to e ach room or project. With our last name as Finch .I collect birds. Everyone should have a signature stamp. 
Repurpose- if at all possible reuse and repurpose. Rather you add a clip cover .Make new pillow shams. In this room I reused flowers from our daughters wedding. To remind us of that day. of course I used a concrete vase to stay with the theme of our concrete house!
Treasures- We all have special pieces and maybe not sure how to display them.I do that with several items. In this case I wanted to display all my grandmas baking ribbions she had won. I placed them in a glass canister my brother got us for a wedding gift. Along sits a scoop my hubbys grandma had. In our hutch I wanted to share our nans pic. she was the glue of this family. we miss her everyday. so when we walk by and see it it is a lovely reminder .The glasses were my father n laws that we lost a few months ago. So many stories with his glasses. Wanted a little piece of him to share as well. Of course my signature bird !
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