The other day, someone asked me how I've stayed so positive after being laid off from my job in July. My initial response was, "I HAVE NO FREAKING CLUE," but after giving it some thought, I realized they were right. There's been a shift in my attitude and perspective on life ... for the better. Crazy, huh? Let me explain. A recent auction find. 🔮 I'm writing this post four months after losing my job. If you want to know all the juicy details about that, there aren't any. The company I worked for decided to scale back and focus more on family and less on business. If there were a way to keep me there forever, they would have. We were (and still are) extremely close ... like family. There are no hard feelings between us at all . I was given a generous severance and have felt well taken care of, considering the circumstances, for which I'm incredibly thankful . But yeah, as many of you know, I spent over nine years living and breathing A Beautiful Mess . I loved my job and felt like I was "set" for life. Maybe it was naive thinking, but that's how I felt—like the brand itself was completely indestructible. After getting the news that I was laid off, I panicked and spent the majority of the day in bed. I also had a big surgery planned a couple of weeks later, so my mind was shifting back and forth. Everyone's situation is different, but knowing that I didn't have to cash out my retirement fund to pay my mortgage and bills was a HUGE sigh of relief for me. I had a little buffer. Once I had recovered from my hysterectomy, I began the job search. Looking for a job at 40 is A LOT different than when you're 30. I have way more "boxes to check." I would describe the process as mind-numbing with small bursts of encouragement. Considering everything that's happened this year, I haven't completely lost my mind. In fact, I have a positive spark inside of me that I didn't know existed. Here are a few things that have helped me in the past four months: I started this blog. I never intended to write a blog. Ever. My goal has never been to become an influencer or make it big— I just wanted to have a creative outlet other than Instagram. I soon realize d how therapeutic it felt to write blog posts, check comments, start an Amazon affiliate program, and share my photos on Pinterest. These are all things I did at A Beautiful Mess, and I can still do them. I had no idea how much I needed this until I started doing it! Branching out. Having severance pay has made a huge difference in this situation for obvious reasons. But the idea of running out of money has always been at the back of my mind. Initially, I didn't think about doing freelance or part-time work. Still, after sharing my situation on Instagram, I had two friends (who own local businesses) reach out to me about occasional work. The balance between looking for jobs and working a little has been beneficial for my mental health. Networking. Yes, we hear the term "networking" all the time, but I realized I needed to take it to the next level to make things happen. The first thing I did when I started looking for a job was update my decade-old resume. Never in my life did I think that I would put my photo on a resume, but here we are. I'm proud of the resume I put together (with the help of some smart friends), which I shared on social media, first on Instagram and then on Facebook. I had over 40 people re-share it on Facebook, and it resulted in several job interviews. Changing my surroundings. I make it a point to leave my house every day and surf LinkedIn from a coffee shop. It has made me realize that I didn't get out of the house enough while working remotely for ABM. Like, at all. Making a simple change, such as adjusting   my surroundings, has made me feel better. Staying busy. I know this might sound annoying, but I rarely get bored. Perhaps it's because I'm not good at sitting still, but I try to keep my days busy. Currently, I have more free time than I'm accustomed to having, and life will eventually return to being really busy, work-wise. I try to remind myself every day that this is temporary , and I should make the most of the extra time I have. Embrace hobbies. I have been buying and reselling vintage decor for over 15 years, and it's truly one of my favorite hobbies. It m a kes me happy. So, while this isn't a new hobby for me, I've been listing more items than I usually do (on Facebook Marketplace, Etsy , and IG stories) to make extra money. I also started a series on this blog called 10 Favorite Things. Yes, this is exactly what A Beautiful Mess does weekly, but I enjoyed writing those posts. Lol. I make a little extra money from commissions between the blog posts I write and the things I share on Instagram. I don't care if I make $5.00 from it— it's fun for me regardless. Moral support. This is the most important thing on my list. The advice, support, and encouragement I've received from my family and friends have been my biggest ga me-cha ngers. Listening to what someone says is one thing, but believing them changes everything. Everyone I've talked to during this big transition in my life has told me the same thing. "We aren't worried about you at all. You're going to find something even better than you had before!" Wait. What? I guess I'm trying to say that if you hear something enough, you will start to believe it. I've been surrounded by positivity this whole time. And I can feel it. I hope this post is helpful if you're currently facing a similar situation in life. I tell myself that things will work out and be OK every day. That doesn't mean I don't have bad days. Trust me . It’s time for a change, and I can’t wait to find out where I land. Until then, chin up. Let's be happy while we're here. xoxo, Jacki

If you live in a home built before 1950, the nostalgic charm of your bathroom was likely legit, flat-out, 100% destroyed many years ago. Sometime around 1970, people decided to get rid of their pedestal sinks and pink toilets, causing the rest of us a few headaches and the (expensive) urge to renovate our bathrooms back to their original glory. When I bought my 1920s bungalow , it was pretty obvious that the bathroom had been renovated a few times. Did it look horrible? Meh. Was it fixable without spending a fortune? Yes! It just needed a little love. The tile floor isn't bad. It's not original to the house, but I don't mind it. I'm not sure why they put it on the vanity or didn't use any grout, but it's fine . This 1970s bathroom only needed a few tweaks to be a happier space: The wallpaper needed to be removed The wood vanity needed a coat of white paint The room needed a BIG dose of color I was fortunate to have hired someone to remove the wallpaper and paint the walls white before moving in, so I can't take credit for that part. A couple of months after I moved in, I tackled the vanity. Paint can transform a space like pure magic, which did not disappoint in this scenario. It helped so much! Sweet, sweet progress. The last step was to add A LOT of color, which is one of my favorite things to do while decorating. I will say that having a large vanity is nice from a decor and storage standpoint. My brain wants a 1920s pedestal sink in here, but I get why it's not the first choice for people anymore. I found my mirrored tray at a flea market a few years ago. I often come across them, but I had never seen one like this. The colors were my starting point when decorating the bathroom. Links: Salt Lamp Night Light / Vintage Perfume Bottle From there, I added a framed piece of embroidered fabric, floating shelves , and a bunch of knick-knacks. The bathroom is pretty tiny, so I didn't have room to add a cabinet or table. I thought about an over-the-toilet cabinet but opted for white shelves instead. And they were extra fun to decorate. I've been slowly adding to my vintage apothecary collection. Two of my latest additions are the cough drops (still in the box) and a bottle of cough syrup containing chloroform. Nobody truly understands how exciting these things are to me. Lol. Speaking of shelves, it took me almost a year, but I finally put some in the shower. These are the stick-on kind and very sturdy. Oh, and I'm not afraid to show off my Navage . This thing has improved my sinuses for the better, and I will continue to use it twice a day forever. Other links: Honest Face Cleanser / Dae Signature Shampoo The Shining is one of my favorite movies, and the bathroom scene will be permanently embedded in my brain. If you know, you know. I found this art print on Etsy, and it's perfect . I hear that clear orange shower curtains make you happier. Actually, I didn't hear that, but I can confirm they help. Other links: Shower Curtain Rod / Clear Hooks / Vintage Mustard Dispenser (perfect for hand soap) / Similar Mirror / Orange Toilet Paper (lol) Hi, Norman. I hope this post serves as a reminder that you can be happy with what you have without spending a lot of money. I have an old pedestal sink waiting for me in the basement, but I'm not in a hurry to put it in here anymore. xoxo, Jacki More room tours: Vintage Living Room Tour Spare Room + Open Closet Makeover Pink and Blue Bedroom Tour Vintage Dining Room Tour

My everyday makeup and skincare routine in my 40s is incredibly simple. When I think back to my high school and college days, I have no idea what the heck I was doing every morning, as it took me forever to get ready. Speaking of high school, I had a giant caboodle filled with all the makeup I wish I still had, mainly because the brands and the products are so nostalgic. Scented body glitter gel was a staple for me. I always dabbed some on the outside corners of my eyes. And don't get me started on the Hard Candy black glitter eyeliner I had in 1999—big ole drool emoji. After 40 years, I can confidently say that I've figured out what works and what doesn't . I buy all the products in the post on a repeat basis. I think the cool kids call them "empties." My skincare routine is pretty minimal. Being stone-cold sober for two years has helped my skin tremendously. I also drink a lot of water between the gallons of coffee I drink every day—OK, not gallons, but still. And 95% of my makeup is made with clean ingredients. It does make a difference. I promise. Here are my tried and true favorites: Skincare Honest Beauty Gentle Gel Face Cleanser - It's simple, effective, and made with ingredients that make my skin feel good. Thayer's Alcohol-Free Rose Petal Toner - I recently started using this toner twice a day, and my skin is smoother and flake-free. Summer Fridays Cloud Dew Gel - This is the best moisturizer I've tried. It's very lightweight and keeps my skin hydrated throughout the day. Summer Fridays Heavenly Sixteen Face Oil - I apply a few drops of this face oil to my skin after moisturizing. Gua Sha - I use this tool religiously. It helps de-puff my face and the areas below my chin. Makeup Kosas Skin-Improving Foundation - A clean foundation with staying power, skincare ingredients, and SPF 25. ILIA True Skin Serum Concealer - A medium-coverage concealer with clean skincare ingredients that blend seamlessly. Kosas Cloud Setting Powder - I love this powder. It gives my skin a "blurred" look and instantly removes shine without being cakey. Milani Baked Highlighter - This is the best highlighter in the universe. It instantly makes me look more awake without looking like a full-on disco ball. Pacifica Beauty Mineral Eyeshadow Palette - These budget-friendly, clean eyeshadows are infused with cocoa butter. I use the cocoa and pink palettes. Honest Beauty Extreme Length Mascara - I've tried many mascaras over the years, and this is the best one ever. It has a primer on one side. Maybelline Expert Wear Brow Pencil - This old-school eyebrow pencil is the only one that works for me. I use the shade blonde (it's more like a medium brown). ILIA Color Block Lipstick - My favorite everyday lipstick. It has a rich and creamy texture and is long-lasting. Tower 28 Milky Lip Jelly - A non-sticky, nourishing lip gloss that looks perfect on top of any lipstick. Ready for a before photo? It really shows my age because you can tell that I plucked the heck out of my eyebrows in the 90s. After! Unedited and real as ever. Let me know if you have any questions! This was fun to write. xoxo, Jacki

Maybe you've noticed that I've grown quite fond of the 1970s rock-country-bluegrass band The Ozark Mountain Daredevils . It's also very possible that you have no idea what I'm talking about. Either way, there's a backstory to share about this “ragtag collection of hippies, bohemians, and musicians of no fixed ambition" from my hometown of Springfield, MO. I remember hearing the song "Jackie Blue" when I was a teenager, and I thought it was cool that my name was in it. It didn't take much to excite me back then. The only other Ozark Mountain Daredevils song I knew was "If You Wanna Get to Heaven" because it was one of my late uncle's favorite songs. So yeah, I basically knew nothing about them. Fast forward 20ish years ... Shortly after I closed on my house last August, I read a Facebook post about the home's history by a friend of mine, Richard Crabtree (a local historian and realtor). I was intrigued by everything he said, but one thing in particular caught my eye: Granted, I didn't know much about their music, but the idea of the band practicing in my basement in the '70s seemed pretty cool . But I soon forgot about it because I was hyper-focused on getting my new house in order. Back in the spring, I went to one of my favorite flea markets, Timeless Treasures. It's filled with random junk and treasures (timeless, even). But really, I love that place. I stepped into a booth with many old records in it ... even though I had lost interest in buying them for quite some time. But for whatever reason, I decided to look. ACTUALLY, there was a reason. I thought to myself ... "Maybe I'll find an Ozark Mountain Daredevils album. That might be cool since they have a connection to my house." I found their second album,   "It'll Shine When It Shines ," and it was a sealed copy from 1974. I was so excited! I listened to the record as soon as I got home. All the way through. I instantly loved this album—it was perfect from beginning to end. I even listened to it twice. Then, I listened to it again the following day while mowing the yard— this time with my AirPods. Lol. I couldn't figure out why I was so into it, but I was. I quickly fell for all their music. Like ... a lot. About a month later, I went back to the same flea market. This time, I was on a mission to find their first album. I knew I could buy it from eBay, but I wanted to see "it in the wild." Honestly, I figured the odds were pretty small. I searched the entire place and couldn't find it. It's not even a record store, so I'm not sure what I expected to happen. About 10 minutes before they were getting ready to close, I quickly scanned a booth with a bunch of random stuff and a small box of records. I am NOT KIDDING when I say that when I quickly flipped through the box of records, I found The Quilt Album toward the back. I freaked out and said something aloud, but I can't remember it. And just like the other album I found at Timeless Treasures, this one looked brand new. There were two more records that I wanted to find, and even though I had great luck the last time I was at the flea market, I doubted I would come across them. Spoiler alert: I found one of them ( Don't Look Down ) with a "promotional use only" sticker on the front. You really can't make this stuff up. I've looked for their records at other flea markets, but I've never found one. And I randomly found 4 of their albums in different booths at the same flea market. What kind of sorcery is this? So, there you have it. I'm not sure if 'obsession' is the right word, but I feel a strong connection to this band. And I think it's extremely inspiring that they are still going strong over 50 years later. Many of the members have changed over the years, but two of them remain the same. If you're wondering, Michael "Supe" Granda is my favorite band member. If you ever feel like listening to some Ozark Mountain Daredevils records, come over to Portland Street. I really can't think of a better place to do it. xoxo, Jacki 2024 update: Supe played a solo show in Springfield this spring, and I finally met him. We talked and talked and talked. I could have talked all night. It was a perfect night, indeed! The Shoe Tree Listening Room, 2024 The Garbonzos, 2024 Related Post: Photos of My House From the 1980s (And the Story Behind Them!)

Sometime between 1970 and 1990, homeowners decided to renovate (AKA ruin) kitchens and bathrooms in old, historic homes. I would give a large sum of money (that I don't actually have) to see what my kitchen looked like before 1979, and even more money to see the original kitchen circa 1923! My kitchen is totally fine—that's how I would describe it. And it feels extremely cozy, like a kitchen you would want to make a Thanksgiving dinner in. However , I recently switched out the kitchen cabinet hardware, and it was truly the easiest (and quickest) way to give the cabinets a makeover! I opted for crystal knobs because I love the timeless look of original door knobs in historic homes. My first thought before swapping out the hardware was, " Do people use this type of hardware on kitchen cabinets? "These look like something you would use on a dresser." My next thought was, "Who cares? " These crystal kitchen cabinet knobs are incredibly versatile and can be used on just about anything (bathroom cabinets, office drawers, and dressers to make a few.) I give them a big ole 10/10. And as part of my frequent cleaning routine, you better believe I sparkle them up with my glass cleaner on the regular. Virgo brains are fascinating. Links : Sassafrass / Baking Yesteryear / The Lebanese Kitchen / Crystal Cabinet Knobs xoxo, Jacki

"Rock bottom" is different for everyone. Maybe it's getting a DWI or falling in your driveway immediately after getting out of an Uber and fracturing your ankle. Maybe it's waking up with a hangover once a week for an entire decade. Either way, when your rock bottom happens, you'll know. And to be completely transparent, none of the above were my rock bottom, unfortunately. Without getting into the nitty-gritty details or showing a before-and-after photo of myself, trust me when I say I knew exactly when it was time to press the reset button. Simply put, I woke one Saturday morning feeling absolutely miserable. My first thought was, "This makes me feel bad, and I don't want to do it anymore." To top it off, some chronic pain issues— after years of improvement— magically resurfaced the same day. I wanted to do anything and everything possible to avoid going down that road again. While this approach isn't for everyone, I made a prompt decision to never drink alcohol or do ANYTHING to catch a buzz ever again. Then, I wrote the date on a tiny piece of paper and stuck it on my fridge with a magnet. Was I scared and hesitant? Yes. Did I post an Instagram story about it three hours later? ...Yeah. Let me explain. I'm not shy about posting on social media. Sure, I'm in my 40s now, but I genuinely enjoy doing it. Most of my content is about my house, vintage finds, and my dog, Norman. When I decided to enter the "sobriety realm" three and a half years ago, my brain needed all the accountability it could get. So, I posted—vaguely— about my decision to quit everything. I immediately felt a sense of calm and ease. It gave me the momentum I needed to move forward. This "method" (if you want to call it that) worked for me as a starting point, but I totally understand why it's not for everyone. Fun fact: Once I have something in my head, I'm really good at obsessing over it— good or bad. But surprisingly, I didn't overanalyze sobriety. I just knew that I didn't want to feel bad anymore, and if I changed my mind and made the wrong decisions again, I would, well, feel bad . That was enough to make me stop. Life has a way of testing us when we're already down. The old saying "when it rains, it pours" rings true for everyone. Shortly after I decided to get sober, two of the worst things I could have ever imagined happened. My 5-year-old Boston Terrier, Kennedy, suddenly passed away over the weekend. In front of me in my living room, mind you. “Devastating” doesn’t even begin to cover a loss like that. Two weeks later, my 87-year-old grandma, Joanie , who was incredibly healthy for her age, was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma. She died 6 weeks later. Again, a gut-wrenching tragedy that's impossible to mentally prepare for. It was awful. Do you know what I'm going to say next? I'm not looking for any sympathy or a pat on the back, but even during extremely dark times, I remained committed to the promise I made to myself. How? I just did. I had to. It taught me that I don't need to "escape" reality to get through hard times. And I quickly learned I was much stronger than I thought. I would be lying if I said the past few years have been easy, but sitting with my feelings isn't nearly as scary as I thought it would be. You might be wondering how I've coped or what I've replaced alcohol or other substances with. Welllll... I drink tons of coffee. I drink gallons of sparkling water. I work. A LOT. And the support of friends, family, and my community (the trifecta) has kept me going. Rinse and repeat. I've always been a hard worker, but my habits started to change after my grandma's diagnosis. She spent her last weeks at home with hospice care, and I visited her nearly every day— laptop always in hand, day or night. I realized pretty quickly that work was therapeutic for me because it kept my mind occupied. Have I been called a workaholic? Yes! Does it bother me? Not really. I mean, I can think of worse things to obsess over. I love working, and I love staying busy. You might even say that I feel a constant need to be doing something . My next goal is to find a happy medium between work, my personal life, and resting . To be continued... OK, so the coffee and sparkling water thing. I didn't even start drinking coffee until about five years ago. Isn't that crazy? It made me feel insanely anxious, so I avoided it like the plague. Maybe it's the combination of Lexapro and Wellbutrin, but coffee has the opposite effect on me now. And I like it! Again, finding a happy medium is key here. I know caffeine is addictive, but for now, coffee will be part of my life. PERIOD. 😄 Let's briefly talk about sparkling water. I swear, it's also addictive, but in a normal, hydrating kind of way. In fact, I have several close friends who also swear by it post-sobriety. It's interesting how dopamine affects our brain when we replace an old dopamine source with something as simple as black cherry sparkling water . And guess what? It works . I drink at least three cans a day, and it always feels like a treat. Something else I've poured myself into the past few years? My house. I bought it one year after getting sober, and it has been a huge blessing. HUGE. The projects are endless (in a good way), and my love for decorating and hunting for vintage treasures has only intensified— if you can believe it. Oh, and before I forget, there are two important things I want to mention. When people imagine a life of sobriety, a couple of fears tend to pop up. Things like: "Social events won't be fun anymore." "I will lose my creative side." Big, massive spoiler alert: Those statements are false . Going out to a bar is literally the furthest thing from my mind now. During my first year of sobriety, if someone had asked me to go out, I would have politely said, "No, thanks." But over time, you get so used to it that it becomes normal. These days, it's rare for me to go out, but as long as I have a drink in my hand or nearby, I'm fine. Do I still have fun in social situations? Of course! Do you know why? The longer you stop doing something, the less you think about it, and the easier it gets. Also, it’s worth asking yourself: What does “fun” actually mean to me? You'd be surprised how mundane activities (and things you never thought you would love doing) actually are... fun. This goes back to the dopamine source I mentioned earlier. Let's discuss the creative part for a minute. I can't stress enough how much my creative side has soared since getting sober. Between working on my house and my side hustle (lol— buying and reselling vintage ), I've never felt more creative. Why? Because my mind is clearer. And it shows . Something really encouraging happened a couple of years ago: The Sober Movement . Gen Z has an entirely different outlook on alcohol than millennials did in the early 2000s. Has sobriety become... cool ? I think so. Was it cool three and a half years ago when I made the switch? Not even close. But it's pretty incredible if you think about it. The majority of my friends don't drink anymore. We have a new outlook on life and what makes us happy. It's INCREDIBLE. Did I ever think I'd be saying any of this? No way. But I'm so thankful I get to say it today. Remember when I mentioned accountability earlier? Well, I decided to take it a step further last year: 10-8-21 . ❤️ A lot of difficult things happened after I got sober. But the number of good things that have happened since October 8th, 2021? An abundance . And honestly, I don't think most of the amazing things that have happened in my life would've happened otherwise. And now, here I am—writing this blog post in the backyard of my rock house with Norman sleeping peacefully by my side . I did it. xoxo, Jacki

I have some exciting news that I'm NOT going to share yet. How's that for an introduction? Even though I’m usually that person  who loves sharing life updates online, I’ve somehow managed to keep this little secret *in the vault.* *I will reference Seinfeld, the greatest show on earth, any chance I get. In other news, I've been working on creating a better work/life balance for myself and failing miserably. Apparently, I love working SO much that I barely leave time for anything else. Can you relate? Probably not. Lol. I'll figure it out! I feel okay about it, but there are a few things on my to-do list that need to be addressed, like having a yard sale before it snows and mopping my hardwood floors. Halloween is upon us, and my house is fully decorated and ready for trick-or-treaters (AKA putting a bowl of candy outside because my dog, Norman, is insane). I added some  orange light bulbs  to the mix this year, which are so fun . The living room and porch are undeniably orange and glowy. Speaking of Halloween, I wrote a blog post appropriately titled 'Holy Grail Flea Market Finds' filled with an assortment of happiness. It won't be long before I start using this every night. It's a must-have, I swear. I just ordered this sweatshirt for fall. Does it look familiar? 💀 In my opinion, porch swings should be draped in vintage handmade afghans. I found this one (below) at the flea market last weekend and couldn't resist. I'm hooked on sound bath meditations. They make my brain feel like a combination of rainbows, sunshine, bouncy balls, and a cozy rainy day. If you've never been to one, Shine Yoga Studio  hosts them every month! How perfect are these pillowcases ? Well, I'll tell you. They are pretty perfect. Affordable, available in a wide range of colors.... sold. I have two pairs of shoes ( 1  and 2 ) on my mental wishlist right now: BOTH Keds. I love Keds, and I think they're better than Vans. There. I said it. This is quite possibly the best highlighter in the world. I've been using it for nearly a decade. And now, for the most random item on my list: the Restcloud neck and shoulder relaxer . That's right— my old, feeble body is deteriorating, so I searched the World Wide Web for relief and found this crazy-looking thing. In all seriousness, I love it and use it almost every day— and you should too! xoxo, Jacki P.S. Here's a link to my last 10 favorite things post  :))

It's hard to believe that I was interviewing for a job at BigPxl this time last year— one whole year ago . I remember dreading the holidays because I was still processing a tough season in my life. Blahhh. My outlook this year couldn't be more different. I feel full of hope and positivity, and I’m soaking it in as much as possible. So... who wants to see some of my favorite things? LOL. With Christmas just around the corner, I thought I'd share a few things on my list, a few things I'm gifting, and a few just-because thingamajigs. Now that I'm back in an office, choosing a cool wall calendar is very important. I love these ribbon candy ornaments . I wore this dress to our office Christmas party , and it was as fun to wear as it looked. I will admit that a bell fell off by the end of the night, but I still give it five solid gold stars. For Christmas Day, I picked out a slightly more tame but equally fun printed dress — because why not? These are my go-to winter gloves. I have them in purple , but I would gladly accept them in this color , too. A gift for virtually anyone on your list . I opted for a bubblegum pink Christmas tree this year but was REALLY tempted to pick this color . Women Over 40 Are Better Because ... (insert 100,000 reasons here) If you're into pancakes, waffles, and glitter, you're going to want this in your stocking this year. (I mean, I want this in MY stocking this year.) My bedtime routine: lavender essential oil, magnesium lotion , and this overnight lip treatment . Don't make me say, "Treat yourself." I'll do it, I swear. xoxo, Jacki P.S. Here's a link to my last 10 Favorite Things post :o)

My bedroom in high school was the quintessential late 90s bedroom— the walls were covered with pages of Rolling Stone and Spin magazines , black light posters with trolls and mushrooms on them, and glow-in-the-dark stars. It was very angsty ... just like me. There's absolutely no way I could have predicted that my "adult bedroom" would be predominantly pink. No way, no how. The colors in my current bedroom are very calming, which is the polar opposite of a teenage bedroom. It was crazy in there. Haha. You can see a few snippets of it in this modern-day Instagram post. My king-sized bed takes up most of the bedroom, which I like. It's the perfect size to make the room feel nice and cozy. Prisms for days. Yes, that mirrored wall art is crooked in the photo. It bothers me, but I will get over it (OR WILL I??). Moving on ... I scored my headboard from FB Marketplace, and I honestly wasn't sure if it would look OK with the rest of my stuff. It was the first blue thing I bought for the room. It's handmade and wrapped in denim . I really love it! The blue headboard prompted me to find the pink, blue, and yellow vintage chenille bedspread from eBay. It has a few tiny holes in it, but I don't mind. The details are so soft and pretty. If you're looking for a set of budget-friendly velvet curtains , these are great and come in many colors. The hurricane lamp was my great-grandma's, and the bridge score pads belonged to my grandma. You can see some scores below. 🥹 My house only has one small bathroom, so I made a vanity for my bedroom using a desk. I already had the mirror from the medicine cabinet in my old house, one of my grandma's antique chairs, and repurposing 101! Having a little spot to put my makeup on in the morning is nice. Book links: Let's Talk by Andie Bottrell / Frances Hook Picture Book by Wanda Hayes / Making Faces by Kevin Aucoin The lighting in this room is pretty unreal. I have a suncatcher hanging in the window, and it puts off so many prisms. Here's a link to the color-blocked taper candles with a subtle rose scent. My dad found this unique MCM chair in storage several years ago. I've never seen anything like it! I put a couple of my childhood stuffed animals in the chair— having them in my room feels oddly comforting. I bought the set of porcelain angel candle holders and the floral Turner paintings (in the original blue frames!) at a local auction. The pink and blue color palette just kept happening ... Here's a link to my spiral taper candles . Norman's reflection is pretty darn cute . This vintage crystal light fixture was in the living room of my previous house. Do you remember it? I never thought I was into white wicker furniture ... until I was. My grandma had a whole set in one of her guest bedrooms. I have her nightstand set, plant stand, side table, and lamp. I put the lampshade from the wicker lamp on an old pink glass lamp for a mix-and-match situation. The nightstands are from Pier 1 back in the day. I miss going there in high school and college—I thought it was so fancy. My friend Elsie found the old Polaroid shortly after my dog, Kennedy, passed away. It was a really special gift, and it felt like it was meant to be. I wish the original doorknobs were still in my house, but these reproduction crystal doorknobs are the next best thing. They make a big difference! This view makes me feel gooood. I wrote a whole post about my antique printer's drawer(s) . This is one of the first things you see in the bedroom. My bedroom has become one of my home's happiest, brightest spaces, and I'm fortunate to have it. Thanks for looking around! xoxo, Jacki More room tour posts: Vintage Living Room Tour Vintage Dining Room Tour 1970s Bathroom Makeover Spare Room + Open Closet Makeover

I've shared my living room , dining room , bedroom , and bathroom tour on the blog, and today, I'm very excited to share my spare room makeover. I am always struggling to know what to call this room because it's a combination of an open closet, office, and TV room. So, spare room it is! I'll provide a little backstory about this room and some rather shocking 'before' photos. Does that sound too dramatic? Shocking ? But really, it's hard to believe how different this room looked when I bought my house . For starters, the wall that the TV is hanging on didn't use to be there. Traditional Craftsman bungalows have long, narrow living rooms . So, when I'm sitting on my floral sofa, I'm technically sitting in what used to be ... my living room . It took me about a year to find the motivation to figure out what the heck to do with this room, a room that always had the door shut so I didn't have to look at the disaster zone of boxes and whatever else I would toss in here. As I said, this room is awkwardly shaped because it was initially part of the living room. In the 1960s, someone made the primary bedroom larger by REMOVING a wall and putting up another wall. It gets worse. When they did this, they left the floors as-is. 'Removes a wall and leaves the floors as-is once.' It seems like a strange thing to do if you ask me. This resulted in a big room that didn't look like it belonged in a house from the 1920s—with the tiniest original closet EVER. This is where my open closet idea comes in. Friends have asked why I chose the smaller room for my bedroom. The truth is that this space was my original bedroom when I moved in, and it felt bad and wrong. It didn't feel cozy at all. A few weeks later, I moved my big ole' king-sized bed into the smaller room , which instantly felt right. To sum it all up, this spare room went from my least favorite room in the house to my favorite space to hang out and relax . I eat dinner and binge-watch shows like Succession (I'm a late bloomer) here most nights. This has also become Norman's room. He loves napping on the sofa and viciously barking at anyone who walks outside while I'm at work. I lucked out when I decorated this room. All of the furniture is second-hand except for the antique reproduction writing desk . I used the vintage floral sofa as my color palette and went from there; everything seemed to fall into place perfectly. It's kind of crazy how it happened. I knew I wanted to avoid using white furniture and make this room look slightly different from the rest of the house. By the grace of God, I found the antique coffee table, side table, and pedestal table at auction and paid under $30 for everything. Most of the knickknacks on the shelf below the TV were in a box (another auction find!), and they somehow matched the color scheme of the room. The blue glass violin vase and bright yellow plaster basket were my great-grandma's. You know, the same great-grandma who lived on the SAME street as I do now when I was five years old. 🔮 Hi, Norman. I genuinely believe that every house needs an old-school phone in it. I always see them at flea markets and finally bought one for myself. This room needed one. I didn't have a spot to put this ice cream cone cookie jar on the shelf with the rest of my collection , but it ended up looking just right on top of an old TV tray in this room. Here's another view from the sofa. I was fortunate to have this room's original floors refinished and repaired. Looking in front of the yellow rug , you can see how they repaired the section of the missing floor. I like how it separates the room, especially since I decided to make the other half an open closet. Other links: velvet flower pillow / orange shag rug My grandparents had this amazing orange fish painting by Lee Rose in their home in the 1970s and 1980s, and like everything they owned, I loved it when I was a kid and love it even more now. My framed Ozark Mountain Daredevils poster is one of my most prized possessions. It's an original tour poster from the 1970s and deserved to be unsealed and hung on the wall, in my opinion. Here's a view of my 'open closet' on the other side of the room, which includes a desk I never use and an office chair I found on the side of the road, LOL. I donated so much clothing before (and after) I moved into this house that I unintentionally developed a capsule wardrobe . Links: velvet curtains / curtain rods / gold clothing rack / crystal door knobs My closet is really tiny, so having a sturdy clothing rack with a shelf on the bottom has been 100% ideal. I switch out the rack with short-sleeved and long-sleeved tops every season. Believe it or not, this is my entire fall/winter wardrobe, minus dresses (which I rarely wear anymore). Having a smaller wardrobe feels so carefree and easy to me. After I bought my house, I realized that collecting and reselling home decor was more important to me than buying clothes. Painting the walls and the doors white made such a huge difference in this room. The blueish-gray color was pretty drab. I broke my 'don't use any white furniture rule' for the other half of this room. The white wicker dresser and floor mirror were both FB Marketplace finds. I still don't know how I managed to fit that big mirror in my Camry, My dad read The Berenstain Bears books to me when I was a kid, and I'm so glad I still have the originals. The jewelry box was my mom's (it's so cute!), and the printer drawer was my great aunt's. It's one of three printer drawers hanging up in my house and is as special as the others. Related post: Collections: Vintage Printer's Drawers With Miniatures I have a growing collection of matchbooks and other things (like this clipboard) from old businesses in my hometown of Springfield, Missouri. Random pro tip: If you're not sure what to do with a cute card, hang it on the wall! Save the best for last, they say. I had to share another prized possession— the chunky turtleneck sweater from Gap's 2000 holiday collection . Teenage me would have never imagined this would be such a big deal 24 years later, but here we are. I found this gem at Goodwill one night while I sifted through a rack of sweaters. It was only $6, and I plan on wearing it until I'm 90 years old (maybe). xoxo, Jacki

Matchbooks are a lost art. It used to be completely normal to grab matchbooks from places like breakfast diners, fancy restaurants, bars, and motels. They were considered tiny souvenirs from trips. Most importantly, they are a solid form of advertising for businesses. Several years ago, I started collecting vintage matchbooks from businesses in my hometown of Springfield, Missouri. Some businesses were around when I was a kid, but most have been gone for decades. Once I started collecting them, I realized how fun it was because it was a challenge to find the good ones. Collections would be boring if we could see everything we were looking for after one trip to the flea market. I decided to display my vintage matchbooks on my coffee table. It's a prime spot for me to see them on a daily basis, and friends can sift through them when they come over. There are many different ways to display matchbooks, but I like to put mine inside the glass dishes from a vintage snack set. I also used part of this set to display my perfume on my bedroom vanity. I thought it would be nice and satisfying to line up each matchbook and snap a couple of photos. It was also a good excuse to dust. If you're curious, I find most of these matchbooks at local estate sales and online auctions . And sometimes I'll find some good ones at the flea market. Either way, they are always a treat! Wooden Nickel Restaurant / Hoover Music / Lucy's / Heer's Garden Room / Venture / Hotel Davidson / Brooks Potato Chips / Missouri Home Savings / The Vintage House / J. Parrino's / Mille's Cafe / Farmers & Merchants Bank / Yellow Bonnet / Bamboo Inn / Steak & Ale / Leong's / Wal-Mart / Shady Inn / Freeman's / George's / W.F. Codys / Mrs. Brown's / Steak & Shake / Maple Restaurant / Gee's The Shady Inn was my grandparents' favorite restaurant. It was a fancy steakhouse and cocktail lounge with the sounds of a piano playing in the background. I remember going there with my family in the late 90s, but it closed in 2001. It has been in business for over 50 years! Heers / Shoney's / Heritage Cafeteria / Skyline Motel / The Grove / The Vintage House / Munchies / Springfield Little Theater / Country Kitchen / Harter House / Tiny's / Steak and Ale / Moseley's / Greene County Dairy / Arrowhead Restaurant / Clary's / The Bar Next Door / George's / Afterhours / Sir Gregory's / Auto Magic / Pizza Inn / Hooten's / Aunt Martha's / University Plaza / KOLR 10 / Pittsburgh Plate Glass / Holiday Lanes / Wendy's There are two restaurants that I desperately miss from this list— Aunt Martha's Pancake House and The Heritage Cafeteria . If you know, you know. Do you recognize any old haunts from these photos? xoxo, Jacki Related posts: Collections: Ice Cream Cone Cookie Jars Collections: Antique Printer's Drawers and Miniatures Collections: Vintage Advertising and Packaging

In the late 90s, I wore a decent amount of jewelry and rings. I always had my zodiac necklace from Renaissance Books and Gifts on. If you don't know about this place, it's been in Springfield for decades and is very similar to the bookstore in The Craft . Maybe I need to go back for old times' sake. 👻 Anyway, for whatever reason, I stopped wearing jewelry after high school—minus those chunky necklaces from Forever 21 that were popular in the mid-2000s. I have some embarrassing photos somewhere ... Soon after my grandma, Ruth, passed away in 2013, my mom gave me her diamond cocktail ring. I felt so lucky to have it. It was a beautiful ring that I remember her wearing all the time. My grandpa gave it to her in the 1960s, and he even had her name engraved (in Arabic) on the inside of the band. I thought it looked way too fancy to wear. For years, I thought it could be a wedding ring if I married. Spoiler alert: I did not wear it as a wedding ring. A few years ago, I said screw it and decided to wear it instead of looking at it in my jewelry holder every day. Looking back, I'm not sure why I was so focused on it looking "too fancy, " especially since my grandma wore it, along with her wedding band, every single day. She wasn't the kind of woman who flaunted wealth or cared about fancy things, and I loved that about her. I can picture it on her finger right now. She never made it look extra sparkly—it's a ring she wore when she made homemade dough, prepared Lebanese meals, and baked the best chocolate sheet cake on the planet. It was a part of her, and it was special. I was equally close to my other grandma, Joanie. She was wonderful at decorating (and everything else, for that matter) and held onto many special things that were later handed down to me. One of those special things was a unique pearl ring that my grandpa bought her in the 1980s. She gave it to me a couple of weeks before she passed away in 2022, and I cherish it so much. I wear it on my left ring finger every single day. We wore the same ring size, which fit perfectly the first time I wore it. And just like my other grandma's ring, I remember her wearing it when I was little. I wouldn't feel like myself if I didn't put their rings on every day, and they serve as a constant reminder of how lucky I am to have these amazing women in my life. xoxo, Grandma Jacki