Decor Apartment Interior Design

<br /><div style="text-align: center;">Such a long absence,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I know</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I've needed time to sift the events, </div><div style="text-align: center;">the thoughts, the feelings in my mind<br /><br />While in the UK,<br />I had no idea what my reflections would reveal from this side of the move...<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAic9EjbmPFZHdST6FK-wfJgAB2qr4FD5sQaZgDpmIhS-e5XzH40kZIa-npZuStKFHKjopvP1uAth3Kaj76sIEmFus76VaW2iwC1m9bVG2zex4QgTBuQv_iP1B1SYTlz6oDx6pYaF_9S1T/s1600/10494801_10202948862735348_8044306423667349667_n-003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAic9EjbmPFZHdST6FK-wfJgAB2qr4FD5sQaZgDpmIhS-e5XzH40kZIa-npZuStKFHKjopvP1uAth3Kaj76sIEmFus76VaW2iwC1m9bVG2zex4QgTBuQv_iP1B1SYTlz6oDx6pYaF_9S1T/s1600/10494801_10202948862735348_8044306423667349667_n-003.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">London Heathrow Airport</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Our move back to the US was a rocky one with unforeseeable mishaps:<br /><br />- all our checked-in luggage was 'lost' for one very long week</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">- tracking online, we saw Hurricane Arthur pass over the ship that carried our house contents<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">- our pets were delayed in US customs due to a bomb threat evacuation</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">- and more things broke than ever in this move</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Feeling like we were starring in 'The Truman Show', we can laugh about it now<br />Sort of :)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMHPPeK3GVRY65nTLuRoAyrQwPLSf5X7Whh-EwQ56FpPP7xvMBRk-nxpF4yHiyS6moldUevJkJirSBr5qeMO-C1K-Wh5PGXWYz2zk0rBc3mmREUzwVkXKh3w3HhgTB1WdkRz-8bIpzoKQe/s1600/DSC02895-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMHPPeK3GVRY65nTLuRoAyrQwPLSf5X7Whh-EwQ56FpPP7xvMBRk-nxpF4yHiyS6moldUevJkJirSBr5qeMO-C1K-Wh5PGXWYz2zk0rBc3mmREUzwVkXKh3w3HhgTB1WdkRz-8bIpzoKQe/s1600/DSC02895-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Surprisingly,</div><div style="text-align: center;">those first weeks in the US I didn't miss England</div><div style="text-align: center;">but I felt sad that France was less accessible<br />(go figure!)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Now, I often find myself lost in reminiscing about England</div><div style="text-align: center;">- London, birdsong, public footpaths, picturesque villages, </div><div style="text-align: center;">our beautiful drive to school, friends -</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It feels like I broke up with a boyfriend I loved dearly</div><div style="text-align: center;">but now I need to move on<br /><br />They say the longer you stay abroad,<br />the longer it takes to resettle back 'home'<br /><br />So we felt it was the right time to leave,<br />especially for the kids</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Living in the UK was a dream come true with the opportunities it provided,</div><div style="text-align: center;">the lifelong friendships created,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and the growth that would have been difficult<br />to achieve had we never left the US<br /><br />We have no regrets about raising our kids abroad<br />during some of their formative years<br /><br />I can't wait to hear their reflections when they are older<br /> and see how it molded them as people<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFSVurNFGvFxe-eJFZ1hv6bQGWhvN2gfurQsOF5xCCBE0ccp6_2sKhYoYIJAfH-UQLxMJTCtZS6C3yToWzBdMDgKmnF3XpgJohoIZGPwImFkJPXmI1lvms06IvcsZ7mhs5StrDIfDeUAn_/s1600/DSC02873-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFSVurNFGvFxe-eJFZ1hv6bQGWhvN2gfurQsOF5xCCBE0ccp6_2sKhYoYIJAfH-UQLxMJTCtZS6C3yToWzBdMDgKmnF3XpgJohoIZGPwImFkJPXmI1lvms06IvcsZ7mhs5StrDIfDeUAn_/s1600/DSC02873-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Now I feel we are entering not a new chapter in life,</div><div style="text-align: center;">but a whole new book</div><div style="text-align: center;">where everything feels foreign </div><div style="text-align: center;">in this US timezone I've never lived in before<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Unexpectedly, </div><div style="text-align: center;">I exhaled when we moved back to the US where the laws make sense to me</div><div style="text-align: center;">(subconsciously a tiny part of me was afraid I'd break an English law I didn't know about)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I felt a tiny bit vulnerable and self-conscious about being a foreigner</div><div style="text-align: center;">My accent would always label me 'The American'<br />no matter how long we lived in the UK<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And there was so much I didn't understand on a deeper level:<br />processes, cultural references, mindset</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I feel like we belong here,</div><div style="text-align: center;">although we don't yet belong<br /><br />I imagine it will take a while before we feel we live here,<br />not just visiting<br /><br /><div>With some local day trips around the area,</div><div>I am starting to see what is here</div><div>rather than what is not<br /><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlbMuOPZCqvVwU2Qm5vTAYaAssPIxuFLQFClKHIcrdaOHd65WsADLWMGbOwi2V3Xp_Z7PEXpzERJxyOuORmPgxTMqfL0Mskji6MQBfbXY4JfT4nQnhbGUHEPRk6CCMKYkXQpSPX9Wu0d3x/s1600/DSC02498-001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlbMuOPZCqvVwU2Qm5vTAYaAssPIxuFLQFClKHIcrdaOHd65WsADLWMGbOwi2V3Xp_Z7PEXpzERJxyOuORmPgxTMqfL0Mskji6MQBfbXY4JfT4nQnhbGUHEPRk6CCMKYkXQpSPX9Wu0d3x/s1600/DSC02498-001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Nowadays</div><div style="text-align: center;">I still walk up to my car with a moment of hesitation</div><div style="text-align: center;">- do I get in on the right side or the left? -</div><div style="text-align: center;">and I'm occasionally surprised when I hear American accents</div><div style="text-align: center;">(as I often thought in England, 'oh, visitors!')<br /><br />It took a while to shake the nagging low-grade worry from the UK<br />that I might not find a parking spot I can fit into<br />or that I might not have proper change to buy a parking ticket</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here, I'm surprised strangers ask me where I'm from</div><div style="text-align: center;">because they detect an accent, they say</div><div style="text-align: center;">(which must be a slight difference in intonation or word choice)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But then due to a lack of English accent,</div><div style="text-align: center;">people are confused when I say I moved here from England</div><div style="text-align: center;">so I must say 'I moved here after living in England for 4 years'</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The 'English' part of me feels that answer is way too wordy and </div><div style="text-align: center;">divulges more personal information than I want to part with,</div><div style="text-align: center;">but that is where the follow up questions lead anyway<br />so down that road I follow<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5i1RZK-yb6wxnXDUyHvbsvrNdWvnesccZfbBGY77TM9t3f00_W9-cvPOoTFQjyqzOetuMaPwIchJFS9bOo-IcFEXN4zIZ5EqCqikts6WQzLaCKz0oVE0XVJhDHWe06WxfTgPWRph59ZY/s1600/DSC02524-002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5i1RZK-yb6wxnXDUyHvbsvrNdWvnesccZfbBGY77TM9t3f00_W9-cvPOoTFQjyqzOetuMaPwIchJFS9bOo-IcFEXN4zIZ5EqCqikts6WQzLaCKz0oVE0XVJhDHWe06WxfTgPWRph59ZY/s1600/DSC02524-002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Having lived in 4 houses over the last 5 years,</div><div style="text-align: center;">I find myself hesitating to spend money on this house in case we move again<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Although we bought this house without intentions of moving,</div><div style="text-align: center;">that nomadic life of 'we might need to pick up and go' still lingers</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I have loved decorating our new 1950's house</div><div style="text-align: center;">All my bottled up creative decorating energy has been released</div><div style="text-align: center;">and it feels good to stretch those legs that have been in rental houses for the last few years<br /><br /><div>Lately I discovered some fantastic home decor blogs</div><div>which provide daily visual inspiration<br />and I have tidied up how I receive blogs through <a href="http://www.unroll.me/">UnrollMe</a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Internet shopping has allowed me to put the house together fairly quickly,</div><div style="text-align: center;">which has been crucial for feeling settled<br /><br /><div>To set up house, we bought new electronics and appliances with US plugs<br />With the benefits of streaming and downloads,<br />we won't buy a DVD player or stereo system this time around<br /><br /></div><div>I still need to shed the scarves and sweaters for a warmer weather wardrobe</div><div>And I must buy a pair of sunglasses!</div><div><br /></div><div>The biggest change I've noticed from living in the US 4 years ago</div><div>is the technological advances:</div><div><br /></div><div>iPads have replaced some cash registers<br /><br /></div><div>Some businesses accept Google Wallet for transactions<br /><br /></div><div>Slide your credit card at the gate when you enter a parking garage<br /><br />Simple mops and brooms are hard to find<br /><br /></div><div>And even soft drink dispensers have a new look<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDTJyDxkHiPdHD5XIcYGUStuV4a6DPRbU_uhrJWX73z2-Qm1x-wjTGk6DcqXB0zNfz9TJOg8i00vxnmcrilltpGhaDfXEJ2VPmONgwka9tMmk2Ka3BtDU7YkyhoWZ8Y_nnp-ltPIIvcrWL/s1600/photo+3-029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDTJyDxkHiPdHD5XIcYGUStuV4a6DPRbU_uhrJWX73z2-Qm1x-wjTGk6DcqXB0zNfz9TJOg8i00vxnmcrilltpGhaDfXEJ2VPmONgwka9tMmk2Ka3BtDU7YkyhoWZ8Y_nnp-ltPIIvcrWL/s1600/photo+3-029.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">If you must know,<br />I can't get enough iced tea!<br /><br />And not to brag,<br />but I can get a week's worth of laundry done in half a day<br />(happy!)<br /><br />It is refreshing to have the sounds of American football<br />on the TV all weekend, not just at dinner time<br /><br />And we're back to<br />going to professional baseball games<br />with yummy oversized brats and sauerkraut<br /><br />Proudly I now have <b>another</b> driver's license under my belt<br />(needless to say, it was much easier than the 3-part test in England)<br /><br />Nonetheless<br />I naturally I have my intense 'missing England days'<br />and I would visit again in a heartbeat<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgST1JirpQAhyphenhyphenfYpo60hW-fg7KxtwKs-9QAr_8SCwqeKgTAwDeFhYB-ayoxfAEK5M8GAAJQLuxm0c7ZAw_-o5M2FPvKeli6TBUTOwhIFs5ucmCh5YUeQxELOlswMdboMr72_ZxAojtwDc7F/s1600/photo+3-028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgST1JirpQAhyphenhyphenfYpo60hW-fg7KxtwKs-9QAr_8SCwqeKgTAwDeFhYB-ayoxfAEK5M8GAAJQLuxm0c7ZAw_-o5M2FPvKeli6TBUTOwhIFs5ucmCh5YUeQxELOlswMdboMr72_ZxAojtwDc7F/s1600/photo+3-028.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Blogging was an integral part of my experience in England</div><div style="text-align: center;">as it motivated me to do and see more</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It has been an amazing experience to e-know so many of you</div><div style="text-align: center;">and I even met some virtual blogging friends face-to-face</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">While I intend to keep this blog online</div><div style="text-align: center;">(still thousands of pageviews weekly!),</div><div style="text-align: center;">the title of my blog lends itself to stay in the UK</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">One day I might start up a new blog</div><div style="text-align: center;">but I haven't identified something I really want to get down on paper</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So for now,<br />thank you so much for reading<br /><br />My heart is happy we connected somehow<br />in this crazy internet world</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />I love you guys!<br />Wishing you all the best</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>- all photos my own -</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(an unsponsored post)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54489/35/2FD701A88E1AB920883327F28E3E4BF9.png" style="background: transparent; 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Landed

Such a long absence,I knowI've needed time to sift the events, the thoughts, the feelings in my mindWhile in the UK,I had no idea what my reflections would reveal from this side of the move...London Heathrow AirportOur move back to the US was a rocky one with unforeseeable mishaps:- all our checked-…

Decor Apartment Interior Design

Landed

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