Lumber, Floral and A Candy Bar...It's All There!!!

   Back in the day when my dad(of blessed memory) said he was going to the hardware store, he really was going to a hardware store, meaning a store with the creaky hardwood floors, aisles filled with nuts and bolts, screwdrivers hanging on the walls  and a nice variety of saws.  They were usually a family owned business, had a few employees, and you were in and out real quick!
   Now today if you mention you are going to the hardware store, here is what you are really saying..."I am going to the...garden store, the florist shop, the paint store, the bird feeder store, the lumber yard, the kitchen remolding store,  the bathroom remolding store, the appliance  store, the carpet and rug store, the barbecue and grill store, the lighting and fan store...and this list could keep on going and guess what...I LOVE IT!!!  Who would have believed today what a hardware store could and can do for us!!!
   How the "concept" of a hardware store has changed over the years is totally amazing, impressive and awesome to me.  The bigger they build 'em the better they are.  Just from my experience and point of view regarding decorating my new condo...we did it ourselves with a little help for the hardware store.  I'm talking about appliances, kitchen hardware, back splash tiles and area rug  just for starters!  It is all there for you!!!
   And yesterday I visited the garden center and of course headed to the sale rack of perennials, they had the $5 dollar cart, the $3 cart and the $1 cart and for $6 bucks I got some great flowers  that will give me years and years of floral beauty. 
   And here is the interesting part...I enjoy browsing the shelf's, racks and aisles.  I will even venture down to the lumber section because I could get inspired with some decorating idea...you just never know!!!  All the paint colors,  carpet selections, yard art and pottery make you feel like this is a decorators dream and heavenly spot.  And on the way out you can even buy a magazine and a candy bar...does the good karma here ever end???
   On my recommendation, if you need a place to clear your head, or just to "loose" yourself for an hour, or hopefully get inspired, head to the closest main street in your town and drive up to the biggest hardware store you can find.  Trust me, your head will be swimming with ideas about planting gardens, redoing kitchens or building fences and that is just within the first 10 minutes.
   Dear Lowe's and Home Depot... I hope you have enjoyed my tribute to each of you.  Your stores have been my salvation the past six months.  A quick fix and an energy boost come easy to me while in the midst of your walls. Don't ever change your variety of items, the friendliness of your employees or your tolerance of customers just roaming around.  And if you do decide to make changes...please have your corporate offices check with me first!!!
     

It's All About The View and It's All About "BOBS".

Yes, yes, yes I know it has been a long while since my "golden" fingers have touched these "magical" keys, but I promise you all with good reason!!! My life just got busy, crazy and very fast-paced!   Could it have been my glorious 10 day trip to Israel?...of course!! Could it have been a local art show I was working on...no doubt!! Or how about my weekend in northern Michigan?...yes with two stars!! And then if you add working, laundry, relaxing and sleeping to my life...one can see what little blog time there is!!!     However I did score two great bargains that are literally off the charts(that was for you Jan!). Browsing through Chico's in Petoskey, Michigan(a great great place to visit, right on the water, charming stores, planked whitefish...anyways) working my way back to the sales racks, noticing the bright orange sign, "all clearance is another 40% off", my antenna went up and I hit the racks fiercely.     I found a great "mist green" cardigan sweater that normally retails for $109.00 and it was marked way way down to $39.99. Now take off another 40%, it's down to $23.99, plus I had a $10.00 of birthday coupon, it's down to $13.99 and I am a passport member so I get another 5% off, now it's down to $13.29 and after tax it cost me $14.09.  Not bad...even the saleslady agreed!!!  And it does not stop here...      We stopped at a huge outlet complex called Birch Run...trust me, it's big!!!  I strolled into the Christopher & Banks Store and sale signs were every where.  Onto the $6.99 rack and there I found a lovely cable-knit vest and here is the best part...it retails for $49.50 and check out all these markdowns, marked down to $39.98, then down to $34.92, then $9.99 and I got it for $6.99...awesome!!!    I'm still on a roll and here is a little history.  I am having a love affair with the brand shoes "BOBS" made by Skechers which is the knockoff of "TOMS".  They are so comfortable, lightweight and come in a hugh array of colors, fabrics and canvases.  For the first time ever I bought 4 pairs of "BOBS" because they are "my perfect shoe".  And add to my luck, there was a Skechers store at this outlet.  In I go and without fail I buy 2 pairs of flip-flops(buy one and get second one 50% off)  Okay I fell for that and there must have been 15 different and new styles of "BOBS" but I held my ground, I restrained myself and realized, "do I need 6 pairs of the same style shoe?"...no...yes...no...yes and then NO won!!!       So let me sum up my thoughts in a couple of sentences:       *It's good to be back in the blogger's seat!!!       *I'll always enjoy the hunt-finding a bargain is just frosting on the cake!!!       *Northern Michigan is spectacularly beautiful...no shortage of breathtaking views!!!       *My two new pairs of flip-flops helps me with my flip-flop addiction.       *I'm counting down the days until I start buying my fall and winter "BOBS".       *And now I fear a problem...do I have a new addiction...HELP!!!