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 really 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 was healed up from my hysterectomy, I started 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 planned on writing 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 now 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 good for my brain. Networking. Yeah, we hear the term "networking" all the time, but I realized I needed to take it to another 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. Doing something as simple as changing my surroundings has made me feel better. Staying busy. I know this might sound annoying, but I rarely get bored. Maybe it's because I'm not good at sitting around, but I try to keep my days full. Right now, I have more free time than I'm used to having, and life will eventually go back to being really busy, work-wise. I try to remind myself every day that this is temporary , and I should try to enjoy the extra time while I have it. Embrace hobbies. I have been buying and reselling vintage decor for over 15 years, and it's truly one of my favorite things to do. 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 FB 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 Amazon 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 truly been surrounded by positivity this whole time. And I can feel it. I hope this post is helpful if you're in a similar situation in life right now. 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 . But I really do believe that I was laid off from my job because there is something better out there for 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 be able to hire 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 knickknacks. 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 medicine and toiletry collection. Two of my latest additions are the cough drops (still in the box!) and a bottle of cough syrup with chloroform in it. 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 changed 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 is a good 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

Do you believe in manifestation? It took me months to write this post because I wanted to let the experience sink in. It has been incredible, and I can't wait to share it with you! I wrote a blog post last year about my connection to The Ozark Mountain Daredevils that prefaces this story, but it all started after I bought my house and heard rumors that Rune Walle, one of the band members, lived here in the early 1980s. After I heard the rumor, I thought, "Wouldn't it be cool if I could find a photo of the band practicing in my basement?" Or just any photo in GENERAL. I left it at that. Well, for a little while. I went on Facebook to do some "research." I might have sent a few DMs —I have no shame—b ut I didn't get anywhere. A year later, I had pretty much moved on from the idea. Last winter, a woman named Ana Walle commented on a mutual friend's photo on FB. I recognized the last name but assumed she was Rune's sister. But because "I have no shame," I sent her a message. I figured it was a long shot. But she replied, told me the rumors were true, and left this comment on a photo of my kitchen: As you can imagine, I was completely ecstatic and couldn't believe my eyeballs , especially when she mentioned Munchies. I wasn't around in the Munchies' days, but I heard about them. It was the spot where all the hippies hung out in downtown Springfield in the 1970s. And Ana was a waitress there. She met Rune there, too. They later got married and bought my house. Well, their house. Our house? Ana in front of Munchies I already had two things in my house from Munchies— a set of matchbooks and a framed print of their logo. Cosmic goodness. Related Post: Collections: Vintage Matchbooks From Springfield, Missouri The Ozark Mountain Daredevils : Buddy Brayfield, Steve Cash, Larry Lee, Michael "Supe" Granda, Rune Walle, and John Dillon. To make a long story short (which I'm terrible at doing), soon after our first message exchange, Ana sent me a bunch of old photos, and we talked on the phone for 2 hours . We both felt like we had known each other for decades. I know! I went from thinking about how great it would be to see a photo of the Daredevils having band practice in my house to forming a friendship with an amazing woman. We have sent each other care packages. I sent her a text on Mother's Day. Lol. I feel very close to her and don't care how crazy it sounds! I wanted to share some of the photos she sent me. I hope you feel all the fuzzy feelings I felt when I first saw them. Who am I kidding? I still feel them. Related Post: Why I'm Obsessed with The Ozark Mountain Daredevils Ana and Rune Birthday party in the living room Here's a peek at the kitchen. The WALLPAPER. The orange curtains. 🧡 Here's a fairly recent photo of the kitchen now. Birthday party in the dining room The large, original window in the dining room had three panels, and you could open them! I'm thankful to have a large, weather-proof version of this window today, but I love seeing how it originally looked. Here's what the dining room looks like now . The living room It's hard to imagine, but the whole house (minus the kitchen and bathroom) was covered in carpet. You can see an old TV in the corner and the original fireplace. Here's what the living room looks like now . This photo is PRICELESS. Apparently, there was a rock BBQ grill in the backyard that matched the house (!!!!). It's sadly long gone, but this photo of Rune and a friend makes me feel slightly better about it. This picture of Rune's parents painting the back of the house really got to me. Due to age, the wood needed a fresh paint job, so I started scraping the paint down to the bare wood last year. I scraped off three layers of paint: orange, brown, and blue. 😢 PSA: I need to finish this project this summer! I snapped this photo on a snowy morning so I could compare it to the one Ana sent me. Remember when Ana mentioned eating smoked lamb on Christmas Eve? Here's a photo of Rune in front of the big dining room window that night. Ana with her daughters Ana told me this house was filled with positive energy, music, and love. People were always in and out, and it was a happy place . I've never been more sure that this is where I am meant to be. My forever home! xoxo, Jacki

As a certified creature of habit, I don’t venture out of Springfield very often to go thrifting. Why? I tend to have surprisingly good luck at the two places I frequent, which I won’t reveal here. This is top-secret, confidential information. Did I also mention I'm a creature of habit? Last month, a friend told me about some flea market gold mines in Joplin, Missouri. And if there’s one thing you know about me, it's that I love day trips and flea markets. So, we went! This post is heavily (one hundred percent, actually) inspired by our trip to Joplin. I found a plethora of cool things that I don't usually see at my frequent haunts. And just for fun, I've included Etsy and eBay links under most items in case you don't want to search for them "in the wild" like I did. So, let's start with my favorite find of all time (I made that up, but it's pretty close), which I didn't find in Joplin (lol) but is very worthy of this list. Vintage Y2K Acrylic Tulip Lamp: First of all, the term "Y2K" annoys me, but ... that's the best way to describe this INCREDIBLE lamp. To my surprise, I found this and a matching glitter butterfly lamp in the same flea market booth in Springfield. They were both covered in a thick layer of dirt and dead bugs, but I saw the glowing potential. Did I mention they worked ? I brought them home and meticulously cleaned them with Q-tips, and the butterfly lamp shorted out. Cool. Nevertheless, the tulip lamp is proudly displayed in my dining room and will be forever. F-O-R-E-V-E-R. A few weeks before I found these, a delightful memory popped up on Instagram: Girlfriends LA catalog *Insert internal squeal here* Vintage Light-Up Jack-O-Lantern Blow Mold: I have an evergrowing and everlasting love for my vintage Halloween collection . I add a few things to it every year, so there's no telling how much I'll have when I'm 80. An entire house of Halloween decorations, probably. Blowmolds are the ultimate Halloween novelty item, and if I find a good deal on one, I will buy it. Every time. It's hard to tell in the photo, but this one lights up— and it's in perfect condition! I can't wait to plug it in and bask in the orange glow. Here's the Halloween candy bucket version . LA Times Magazine, Christmas 1974: My vintage Christmas collection has also grown like crazy over the years, and I couldn't resist the cover of this Christmas edition of LA Times Magazine . Here's a peek inside. Art Foam Sculpture Book, 1973: Okay, how could I resist THIS cover ? I knew I needed it for something, but I wasn't sure what. It didn't take me long to realize it needed to be framed and proudly displayed on my dining room wall. I saved the rest of it. I mean, look at the inside! Vintage Glass Owl Jar Candle: This is the quintessential candle of the 1970s . Not only is it in flawless condition, but there's still wax inside. It now lives on my mantel, but it truly belongs in a shag-carpeted stoner basement. Smiley Face Deck of Cards: Two things. Well, maybe three. I made a loud, audible sound when I found this deck of cards . Not only is the smiley face design the epitome of COOL, but the cards are packaged in a gold glitter case . Eeeeee. Vintage Colorama Drip Candles: If you thought I made a loud, gasping sound when I saw the deck of cards, imagine what everyone in the flea market heard when I found these . As an avid vintage packaging collector , I would have been perfectly content with the box alone. But wait. The unused candles were still inside . Get. Out. Of. Here. Right now. I still can't believe it! Porcelain Lard Container: What a hilarious thing to type. This lard container , meant for things that gross me out, quickly became a planter. Vintage Honeycomb Jack-O-Lantern: Here's another Halloween decoration I couldn't pass up— an unopened Hallmark honeycomb jack-o-lantern from the 1960s. There's something very special about opening a 60-year-old package and assembling the contents. *Sigh* I still can't believe I found everything (minus the lamp) in one trip— all for under $100. Flea market dreams can come true. xoxo, Jacki

Buying a house is as rewarding and intimidating as it sounds. I never knew if I would do it, but I am 14 months later, living in a 100-year-old house that I feel incredibly fortunate to own. I thought I would give you a little backstory about the whole thing. Before I bought my house, my living situation was pretty ideal. My uncle purchased a home in 2013 and asked if I wanted to rent it until he moved back to Springfield from California. I had been living in an apartment for years, so living in a house (and not just any house) felt like a dream come true. My uncle moved to Santa Barbara in 1983 (the year I was born, thanks a lot!), so I wasn't sure when or if he would return to Springfield. It was a unique situation. But we both figured it would be about three years. I ended up living in the house for NINE years. Lol. Those nine years were pretty great. I mean, many good and bad things can happen in your life within a long period like that, but living in a big, incredible historic house on Walnut Street was something I never thought I would be able to do. Like I said, it was a unique situation. It was truly, in my mind, my dream home. The apparent catch was that it wasn't mine. But I didn't care. It felt like home. Fast forward to 2022, a year filled with change and heartbreak. My grandma passed away that January, and I was grieving the loss of my dog Kennedy (who suddenly passed the December before) at the same time. A few months later, I learned I needed to find a new place to live because my uncle was moving back. Bad timing, indeed. I was given a heads-up and had about six months until I needed to move out. But my brain went into major freakout mode. When it rains, it downpours. But it all worked out in the end. It always does! I felt like I was finally in a place where I could afford to buy a house. But it was still scary and intimidating, especially with everything else happening in my head. I started looking at Zillow multiple times a day and soon realized why people get so obsessed with it. It was my main focus, other than my job. It took about four months of looking to find "the one." It was also a crazy time to buy a house. Not that it isn't now, but homes were being sold left and right, and most of them were only on the market for a few days. It was nuts. Basically, if I saw a house I liked, I needed to put an offer down that day to get it. And I couldn't compete with people who could afford to offer more money and all the things. Yada, yada, yada. Looking back, the houses I thought I wanted to buy wouldn't have been suitable for me AT ALL. I didn't want to settle, but I also wanted to make sure I wasn't rushing to find something right before I needed to move out. My goal was to find something built between 1920 and 1960 with lots of historic charm. There were a lot of boxes to check ... and a conservative budget. I even looked at a big historic house (that needed a ton of work) in a neighborhood I've always loved. I thought it was the house for me and considered buying it. I realize now how much of a massive disaster that would have been. I needed a home that didn't need a lot of work. One evening, a Zillow alert popped up for a house that appeared to check all the boxes— a fieldstone craftsman bungalow built in 1923. It was also in a great neighborhood with lots of charm. I texted my relator, and she made an appointment for us to see it the following day. I was so nervous and excited! It turns out that I knew the realtor (and local historian) Richard Crabtree, who was selling the home. I figured that was a good sign. I looked through the house for about 15 minutes and decided to go for it. I nervously put an offer down. I forgot to mention that I qualified for a grant with UMB Bank. It was a huge blessing. The requirements weren't demanding to meet— like being a first-time homeowner and making less than 100k a year. There was a lot of paperwork involved, but I couldn't believe how great of a deal it was. The grant covered my down payment and closing costs. Sold! I put my offer down on the house on a Friday morning and figured I wouldn't hear back until Monday. I received a phone call from Richard the same evening— the seller accepted my offer! It was a done deal. And the crazy thing is that nobody else looked at the house after I put the offer down that Friday. I was the only one! Maybe it was because I knew the realtor, or perhaps it was a universe thing. Either way, I was elated. It truly felt like it was meant to be. It still does. Moving is highly stressful, and starting over is more difficult for some people than others. I guess you could say I'm one of those people. It took about five months for my new house to feel even remotely close to "home." Now that I've lived here for over a year, I'm so glad I did something that felt impossible and out of my comfort zone. And I did it by myself! That makes me proud to say. I would still live in my uncle's house if I weren't forced to move. I would have stayed there forever. Even though starting over felt terrible then, it needed to happen for me to move forward. Oh, and if I decide to live in my house until it's paid off, I'll be 70. Grandma Jacki, indeed. xoxo P.S. Here are a few room tours from my house. Many friends have told me that it reminds them of my old home— but it feels more like me. I like that! Vintage Living Room Tour Vintage Dining Room Tour 1970s Bathroom Makeover Pink and Blue Bedroom Tour Spare Room + Open Closet Makeover

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)

The older I get, the simpler and faster my makeup routine becomes. Seriously, what was I even doing in my 20s—and why did it take me forever  to get ready? The world may never know. A couple of years ago, I shared my everyday makeup and skincare routine , featuring mostly clean beauty products. But it’s 2025 now, and guess what? I’m obsessed  with horrible, toxic ingredients—like, I truly can’t get enough. Signed, sealed, and delivered! In all seriousness, I'm sure all of these products are completely fine . They are my tried-and-true favorites, and I recommend them with all my heart and soul. So, let's get into it! But first, here's a before photo—1,000% unfiltered eyebrowless goodness. Everyday Makeup Routine Products L'Oreal True Match Hylauronic Tinted Serum : This foundation is lightweight, buildable, and formulated with skin care ingredients. It's incredibly hydrating and leaves a soft, dewy finish. 10 stars! Shade: Rosy Light NYX Can't Stop Won't Stop Contour Concealer : A full-coverage, creamy matte concealer that stays put all day—an $8.00 dream product. Shade: Natural Rimmel London Stay Matte Powder : The name rings true! This pressed powder delivers a luxe feel and a flawless, shine-free finish. Shade: Natural Milani Baked Highlighter : One sweep instantly brightens my complexion, delivering the perfect touch of shimmer. I've been buying it on repeat for years . Shade: Champagne D'oro Maybelline Expert Wear Eyeshadow Quad : I still love glittery eyeshadow, but the neutral colors in this palette suit me, and the formula is smooth and blendable. Am I an adult now? Color: Mocha Motion L'Oreal Lash Paradise Mascara : This mascara does it all— it's volumizing, lengthening, and completely smudge-proof. And, dare I say... my absolute favorite. Color: Blackest Black e.l.f. Eyeliner Pen : I tried this budget-friendly liquid eyeliner on a whim, hoping it would live up to my expectations (whatever those are!), and I was so impressed. The felt tip glides on like a dream, and the formula is quick-drying. Color: Black Maybelline Expert Wear Brow Penci l : I've relied on this eyebrow pencil for decades! It effortlessly fills in my (very) sparse brows, and the twin pack ensures fewer trips to the store. Shade: Blonde (It's more of a medium-brown) e.l.f. O Face Satin Lipstick : This lipstick is equally creamy, richly pigmented, and has a pretty satin finish. It's my daily go-to when I'm not slathering on lip gloss. Color: Effortless And now, for the magic wand after photo: I don't know about you, but I rarely go without makeup, even if I stay home all day. Why? Because it makes me feel good. And that's all that really matters. 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

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

Long story short—with a bit of extra sweetness—the story behind my home's connection to The Ozark Mountain Daredevils is featured in the November issue of 417 Magazine ! Sometimes, the universe works in the most mysterious ways, and this is one of those moments. Here's a link to the article . You can only imagine my excitement meter when Heather Kholer, 417's Home Editor, reached out to me in September about sharing the story. This story about Ana Walle, The Ozark Mountain Daredevils, and my home holds a very special place in my heart. It’s one of those feel-good stories we all need more of. xoxo, Jacki Related Posts: Photos of My House From the 1980s (And the Stories Behind Them!) Why I'm Obsessed With The Ozark Mountain Daredevils