The other day, someone asked me how I've stayed so positive after losing 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. 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 re-selling 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 (between 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 nger. 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

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 bubble gum 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)

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

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  :))

Do I love collecting things? Yes. Did I ever think I would have a collection of fragile plaster ice cream cone-shaped cookie jars? Nope! My obsession with ice cream cone cookie jars started one day at Goodwill. I saw a vanilla cone on the bottom shelf in the home decor area and literally couldn't stop looking at it. I almost left without it because I thought it was too big, too random, and ... what would I do with it? Surprising, I know. Spoiler alert: I bought it—and it was only $6.00! After that, the collection started to grow. In fact, many of the jars have been gifts from friends for my birthday and Christmas. I guess it's similar to having a Boston terrier—I've been gifted socks, blankets, purses (you name it) with their goofy little faces on them for years, and I'm all about it. My most recent find was a chocolate ice cream cone. A friend saw it at a flea market and messaged me right away. I'll take that as the highest compliment. I waited a couple of days to run by there to find it (like buried treasure) and ... it was still there! And only $20. I love it. One of the reasons why these cookie jars are so fun to collect is that they are hard to find, mainly because they're homemade . I didn't realize it initially, but when people attended pottery painting classes in the 1970s, the cookie jars were their canvas. A lot of them even have names engraved on the bottom. (Internal squeal). Just for fun, here's a photo of one of my grandma's collectibles-- an ice cream scoop from 1905. It's made of brass and called a "Clipper Disher." Did she inspire my collection? I'd like to think so. ✨ xoxo, Jacki Related Posts: Collections: Vintage Advertising & Packaging Collections: Vintage Matchbooks From Springfield, Missouri Collections: Vintage Printer's Drawers With Miniatures

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

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." Well, let's say that 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 literally 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 really wanted to see "it in the wild." Honestly, I figured the odds were pretty small. I looked through the whole place and didn'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 have 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 don't know if obsession is the right word, but I feel strongly connected 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! Related Post: Photos of My House From the 1980s (And the Story Behind Them!)

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

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 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. And 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 Pink and Blue Bedroom Tour Spare Room + Open Closet Makeover

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? 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 Here's a peek at the kitchen. The WALLPAPER. The orange curtains. 🧡 Here's a fairly recent photo of the kitchen now. 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 . 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 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 was meant to be. My forever home! xoxo, Jacki

My memories of Mansfield, Missouri began when I was a kid. I loved reading the Laura Ingalls Wilder books , which happened to be written in this tiny farm town in the 1930s and 1940s. I've always been a creature of habit when it comes to rewatching movies, ordering the same thing at restaurants, and ... asking my mom to take me to the Laura Ingalls Wilder museum over and over again when I was a kid. And she did. Thanks, Mom. It had been 28 years (give or take) since I visited the museum and toured the home where Laura wrote her books. I was in the mood for a little day trip yesterday, so I decided to head that way. Only an hour from my house, Mansfield is known as "the town where the Little House books were written." And that's pretty much it. But it's 100% worth the trip if you love history. I toured the museum but didn't get there in time to tour Laura's house. Well, technically, I got to see the kitchen. When the tour guide closed up for the day, she let me take a quick peek. It was a cozy yellow and green kitchen straight out of the 1950s. And my dreams. I felt like I had been taken back in time and didn't want to return to the present day. Classic Grandma Jacki stuff. The wallpaper, the appliances, and the little view of the living room I wanted to see in person SO bad (next time) were just too good. I used the old "put your phone against the window trick" to take this photo of Laura's office. The golden hour light was perfect. Here's a little history of Rocky Ridge Farm, the home of Laura and Almanzo Wilder. I highly recommend visiting the museum. I couldn't believe how many items were saved and preserved over time. OK, so not to completely switch gears here, but here's a hilarious way that someone has tried to profit off Laura's name and legacy ... a good old-fashioned RV park with a sign that once said "welcome Laura fans" that now says "welcome L U A fans. Lol. Like most small towns, there are neat buildings with old signage in Mansfield. You know, it's one of my favorite things in life. Here are a few things that caught my eye: I can't resist a rock building, and this giraffe stone was so darn pretty. The owner of the Friendship House (an Airbnb) was decorating for Christmas when I drove by. Here's an old church from the 1940s. I peeked inside, and this is what it looked like: I stopped by Ava on the way home to take a photo of "the sign." Ava Drug is now owned by Walgreens. I'm glad they kept the neon sign, but seeing an advertisement for flu shots below made me feel pretty wrong. The original drugstore soda fountain is no longer in service, but they kept the original red glittery barstools. I was told that this building would be torn down soon, so I snapped a photo of the old painted Coca-Cola advertisement. Here's another view of Laura's home. It has a certain magic, and the view feels serene and calming. Pro tip: Be sure to visit Mansfield in the fall! xoxo, Jacki Related Posts: Time Capsule: Junker Joe's Time Capsule: Freistatt, Missouri

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 goldmines in Joplin, Missouri. And, if there’s one thing you know about me, 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, 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: *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 know 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 continent 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