![What I Gained By Giving Up My Shopping Habit [Retirement Series]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a66444d017db2e6975e076e/1525640325246-TGHMSE1K8UX2TQD23X8Q/Heather+shopping.jpg)
What I Gained By Giving Up My Shopping Habit [Retirement Series]
The last time I indulged in my regular shopping habit was June 2016. This may sound odd, but I’m tracking how long it’s been since I have darkened the door of my previous shopping addiction, TJMAXX. It’s been nearly 10 months. I’m sure my friends working at the checkout stand assume I’m pushing up daisies by now!
As with many life transitions, like retirement/reinvention, being conscientious with finances is an essential piece of the puzzle. I’m impressed by how much cutting the excess shopping can ease the strain of a reduced income. It’s a simple, but effective formula.
![The Fine Art of the Romantic Gesture [It Doesn't Cost a Thing!]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a66444d017db2e6975e076e/1525655093153-HHG3HBVR0Y6IAEP36ZPI/Scott-and-Heather-Be-Mine-700x483.jpg)
The Fine Art of the Romantic Gesture [It Doesn't Cost a Thing!]
Nothing like my husband being gone the weekend before Valentine's Day to make me feel nostalgic and sentimental. I've been in a mood to clear the clutter and organize this winter, so I dug into boxes of old photographs and cards this weekend for a stroll down memory lane.
I was reminded of the fine art of the romantic gesture; it costs absolutely nothing (or nearly nothing if you buy a card). This is a good one. Nearly 20 years from when we first met, this romantic gesture still fans the flame around our house. The first year I started this blog I somehow got Scott to agree to share his perspective on how to make your love interest swoon.
5 Romantic Places to Dine Like Star-Crossed Lovers - Curated Travel
Let’s face it, sometimes we all need a little inspiration to bring the romance back into life. It’s so easy to let day-to-day stresses zap the life blood out of a relationship. If you are needing a few ideas to enhance a date night, a couple of these romantic places to dine that might just set the stage.
The Life Changing Power of "I Do"...Happy 16th Anniversary, Baby!
On a warm and sultry California evening, in a lush garden, we each said two simple words, "I Do". That was sixteen years ago. Today, we look back and reflect on how much those two little words changed the course of our lives.
Date Night: Al Fresco Dinner At Home for Valentine's Day
It was an unusually warm Valentine’s Day this year. Scott had the brilliant idea of ordering in from the Chico gold standard, Bacio Catering, so that we could thoroughly enjoy our evening. Turns out this was the perfect way to enjoy a stress free date night and an al fresco dinner at home.
Scott and I used to whisper it to each other over the years: “We aren’t really cruisers.” We happily schlepped our way through cobblestoned Italian hill towns, wandered along Mediterranean seafronts, and checked into luxurious beachfront resorts, proudly proclaiming ourselves land‑lovers through and through. But after one too many grueling European trips spent hauling luggage from place to place every few days, we realized that small‑ship cruising deserved a place in our travel repertoire.