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 because 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 repeat. 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

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

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

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

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

It's been exactly one year since I bought my 100-year-old bungalow, and it seemed the perfect time to share a dining room tour. I looked at this house for about 10 minutes before I put an offer down (genuinely terrifying), but it was all worth it because of this window . It's real, and it's spectacular. Here's a view from the living room. It's such a HAPPY space. I got rid of over half of my belongings before I moved last year, and like an actual ding dong, I didn't measure to see if my furniture would fit. Thankfully, it did . And everything I kept just fit perfectly in the new dining room. Sometimes, the stars align that way. 🔮 I bought this antique baking cabinet for a cool $100 about 11 years ago. It has a flour sifter inside the left cabinet, and it's the perfect spot to store all the random things I have ... like a Nine Inch Nails music video box set from 1997 and a bag of miscellaneous cords. Virgos are great at keeping things nice and neat on the outside, but I dare you to look inside the drawers and closets in my house. The original wood floors were in pretty bad shape, but I wouldn't have them refinished until I saw that part of the floor was MISSING in the spare room . More on that later. In true before/after fashion, here are a few satisfying before photos. The walls were painted a pale green color. Not terrible, but not great . The photo above shows where the baking cabinet is now. This cast iron light fixture is original to the house, and there are matching lights above the mantel in the living room . I'm so glad someone kept them! I sprayed the heck out of everything with my favorite gold spray paint and swapped the bulbs out for this chandelier bulb set . SO much better. Words will never be able to describe how I felt when I found this unopened pack of glow-in-the-dark stars at the flea market. Straight from the 90s. From NATURAL WONDERS of all places. I also have a tiny collection of 90s magazines . The ironic (and annoying) thing is that I had every issue of Seventeen magazine from 1996-1999 and threw all of them in the trash after graduating high school. It still hurts. I bought these magazines on eBay, and the nostalgia was worth every penny! Many people ask me if this is a blown-up photograph of my grandma. It's not, but I wish I knew who it was. It will always be a grandma mystery. You should treat yourself to this set if you're into taper candles as much as I am. The gradient colors are bright and fun . Also pictured is my grandma's antique butter mold. Ahhh! I wrote a whole post about my ice cream cone cookie jar collection . I bought this set of radiator salt and pepper shakers at auction recently. Too cute for words, really. The dining room table is Danish-made and straight out of the 1960s. It was my great grandma Helen's. How crazy is it that she owned this table while living on the same street  as I do now? It's another crazy universe thing. My grandma gave me a set of her rattan chairs. Like everything she owned, they remind me of my childhood (and they still look brand new). This monstera plant is thriving next to the big window. I need to figure out how to keep it happy during winter. You can't tell in the photo, but the Last Supper print is super old and has big chunks of glitter all over it. Very kitschy. I stuck a vintage floral die cut inside my vintage seashell chandelier (which is incredibly hard to say) instead of using a real plant because that's how my brain works, apparently. I love how this space turned out, and I loved sharing it with you even more! xoxo, Jacki More room tours: Vintage Living Room Tour Pink and Blue Bedroom Tour 1970s Bathroom Makeover Spare Room + Open Closet Makeover

I turned 40 a couple of weeks ago, and let me tell you ... it has felt very empowering. I have a new sense of confidence, and it feels fantastic to enter a new phase of life. When I say "phase of life," I mean UNEMPLOYED and NERVOUS. Lol. I'm being a little dramatic. Life is good, but I also started applying for jobs last week, and it feels exciting and overwhelming. I need to get into the groove of things, you know? My goal this week is to start going back to yoga classes and take lots of deep, mindful breaths during the day. It's all going to work out, but patience is key. I also need to remind myself that I'm only five weeks post-op from a pretty major surgery. Let's move on to 10 things I'm into this week, shall we? I love these budget-friendly sunglasses so much— I have them in multiple colors, and recently bought the " transparent brown " (pictured above). I think I'm into them! Here's the comfy men's ringer tee I'm wearing. I have a ginormous walnut tree in my front yard, and the leaves are changing colors and completely covering the lawn. It's making me want to start decorating for Halloween a little early, TBQH. When it comes to coffee, I prefer using a pink single-cup coffee maker so I can control how much I drink. But I always get coffee somewhere when I'm out running errands, so I don't think the whole moderation thing is working. I'm very excited to wear this festive ham sweatshirt all winter long (and it's on sale). If you're looking for the perfect lip gloss, look no further. This one is incredibly hydrating—it's like a lip gloss/balm hybrid, and I've been wearing the heck out of it. My mind constantly wanders in all directions, and I had this random thought the other day: "I wonder if they make suncatchers specifically for cars?" Great news —they do , and it has been an instant mood booster. I can't wait to flip through this book . Here's a little recommendation from someone who loves to clean all the time (me). I bought a robot vacuum that's cheaper and BETTER than a Roomba. It works great, and it's perfect if you have pets. No roller brushes are on the bottom, so it's a breeze to clean after using it. I'm going to start wearing this pajama set to bed immediately. I highly recommend grabbing some frozen pot pies from Prairie Pie if you're local. I love throwing one in the oven when I don't feel like cooking (which has been way too often lately). P.S. Here's a link to last week's 10 Favorite Things post. xoxo, Jacki

I'm pretty darn excited to start a new series called "Time Capsule." Usually, I would share some of these photos on my Instagram story and be done with it, but now I have a designated place to share even more . And it's fun! This post is about Freistatt, MO, a small town established by German settlers in 1874. I went there to pick up items from an online auction , of course. I could talk about my experience with online auctions for at least 20 minutes, but instead, I will share some photos of Freistatt, the inside of the house I went to, and a special backstory. I normally don't bid on items from auctions out of town, meaning anywhere requiring me to drive over 30 minutes. It's not usually worth the miles, but I made an exception when I saw this auction . If you're curious, you can still see the items that were up for grabs. I was even more intrigued when I read about the person who owned all these treasures. Alice Helmkamp lived in this home for 90 years. Can you imagine? She was born there, never married, and lived in the house until she passed away in 2023. Alice was a school teacher in Monet, MO, for 30 years, and she accumulated a lifetime of vintage and antique treasures, including items that her parents collected. As soon as I stepped into the house, I gave myself an unguided tour and walked up a narrow stairway to see the upstairs. Although the house was obviously in disrepair, I felt so much love and energy emanating from it. Can you imagine how many memories were made in this home over 90 years? I wish I could go back and see photos of Christmas mornings, Halloween nights, and family dinners. That pencil sharpener .... 💛 Here's a view of one of the upstairs bedrooms and the downstairs bathroom. I'm so thankful that I could see this home and bring home a few treasures from Alice. I'll share those soon! After I left the house, I did a little small-town exploring. The community hall wasn't open, but I put my phone against the glass pane and snapped a photo. It looks like the perfect spot to play Bingo and drink black coffee. I rarely take pictures of cemeteries, but this one caught my eye. Freistatt, MO, has a population of under 200 , filled with nostalgia. I'm not sure where I'll end up next, but I hope it feels as special as this town did. xoxo, Jacki Related Post: Time Capsule: Mansfield, Missouri

I moved into my craftsman bungalow last year, and let me tell you ... I did not enjoy living here for the first five months. It was a huge adjustment, mainly since I lived in my last house for nine years. If you're curious, I explained my thoughts on change (and my new perspective on it) in this post . Looking back, buying this house has been one of my life's best decisions, and I absolutely love everything about it—including the neighborhood. Owning a home can be stressful, but it is as fulfilling as they say it is. ANYWAY, I'll stop rambling for now. What I really want to do is give you a tour of my 100-year-old living room. It's cozy, colorful, and filled with all the happy vintage things in life. Before moving in, I had the original wood floors refinished and hired someone to paint the whole house my favorite shade of white . It instantly transformed the house and gave my Virgo brain a clean slate. Here are a few photos that show what the living room looked like before I moved in: Just FYI, this house will always and forever be a grandma house , I think it's time for me to buy this pennant , too. My house was filled with outdated ceiling fans, so I promptly had them removed before I moved in. I didn't think about the fact that there wouldn't be any overhead lights in the house until I found replacements—rookie mistake. I wanted to find a vintage light fixture for the living room, but I also wanted to see what I was doing, so I opted for a vintage-inspired chandelier . This is the washable shag rug I picked for the living room. It's cheap and easy to maintain if you have pets. Here's a view of my printer's drawer . I scored the sofa from Facebook Marketplace (who doesn't get their sofa from there nowadays?), and my grandma made the comfy afghan I cuddle up with—even when it's 95 degrees outside. This is my favorite view in the living room. I really thought the fireplace would feel too much like "Bass Pro," but it doesn't at all . It has a cabin-in-the-woods vibe,e and it's the perfect spot to watch TV and eat dinner. Speaking of cabins, the orange chairs were in my grandparent's lake cabin in the 1960s. Nostalgic gold . I remember when my grandma found them in storage five years ago, and I scrubbed and detailed them with a toothbrush. They look brand new! Here's a link to my color drip taper candles . 100% recommended! Several years ago, I started collecting matchbooks from old businesses in my hometown of Springfield, MO. I love a good challenge, so finding one at the flea market, estate sales , or online auctions is always exciting. The last two are the best places to find local matchbook collections. Oh ... here's another collection I have throughout my house — vintage packaging and advertising . The fonts, illustrations, and colors were over the top back in the day, and I never got bored looking at them. I can't imagine that boxes of starch and laundry detergent from 2023 will be exciting to people 50 years from now, but hey ... you never know. I have a little collection of those round candles that were popular in the 90s. They aren't easy to find, so I only have a few of them (for now). I had a similar zebra print candle in high school and should have kept it. OH, and all my Delia*s catalogs, Alloy catalogs, clothes from Gadzooks, and my steel-toe Dr. Martens. The list goes on, and the struggle is real. If you come over, you'll find several original Ozark Mountain Daredevils records out and about, and I will happily listen to all of them with you if you want. I even wrote a post about why I feel so connected to (AKA obsessed with) a local band from the 70s if you feel so inclined to read it. I also have a little collection of old advertising from my family's business, Moseley's Office Supply . It's been in downtown Springfield for over 80 years. ❤️ Thanks for stopping by. I'm excited to share more room tours with you soon! ✨ xoxo, Jacki

I remember when my grandma gave me her printer's drawer . It was filled with tiny things, like a glass Coca-Cola bottle and a wire basket filled with paper eggs. When I was little, she would let me take the miniatures out of the drawer and hold them. I thought they were so neat! She gave me her collection about 15 years ago, soon after I moved into my second apartment. It was such a special gift! I figured it would take years to fill up the drawer, and I was right. In the early 18th and 19th centuries, printer drawers (also known as letterpress trays) organized stamps inside large printing cabinets. Today, these wooden drawers are used for something completely different. They are the perfect place to display tiny collections. They make my brain very happy, and I own three of them. 👵🏻 Here's a closer look at the one my grandma gave me. I have it in my bedroom. In a perfect world, I would find miniatures small enough to fit in those bottom squares . I have a huge printer's drawer in my living room, and all spaces are the same size. One of my favorite pieces from this collection is the smallest handmade book ever: Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret . Ah! My most recent collection was a gift from my cousin. Last year, I received a surprise package in the mail from Chicago, and it was filled with my great aunt's printer's drawer, miniatures, and holiday decor from the 1960s. I was elated to receive so many special things that belonged to my grandma's sister, Phyllis. I have her collection in my office/den room. I hope this inspires you to look for the little things in life and start your own collection! xoxo, Jacki Related Posts: Collections: Vintage Packaging and Advertising Collections: Vintage Matchbooks From Springfield, Missouri Collections: Ice Cream Cone Cookie Jars

I enjoyed writing 10 Things Sunday for A Beautiful Mess so much that I included a similar post on my blog. Let me know if you have any better ideas for a title! Lol. I'm at Table Rock Lake this weekend, celebrating an early birthday with family. They rented a few cabins a few seconds away from my grandparent's old cabin and the dock that's been in our family since the 1960s. My brain was flooded with so many good memories when I came here. Which honestly isn't enough for a place that's only an hour away from my house. That's right. I had a Snoopy rod and everything. I come from a family of avid fishermen (and women), and my dad taught me how to catch my first bass when I was five. My love for fishing hasn't continued with age, but I still love to be on the water. With my SPF 70 on, of course. Here are a few things I've been into lately: I ordered a set of faux olive trees for my office/den, which look so realistic! I'm going to thrift some large pots to fill with actual soil to "up" the realistic factor even more. I learned this trick from Elsie , and I've wanted to try it ever since. I'm one of those people who can eat the same thing for breakfast every day for months until I finally get sick of it. My new breakfast routine is a healthy version of peanut butter & jelly oatmeal. It's REALLY GOOD. I combine gluten-free oats with a scoop of natural peanut butter and a handful of organic blueberries, add some water, and pop it in the microwave. Boom. Done and done. This is my go-to affordable rug for virtually any room. It's very simple, and it looks like a shag carpet. I have the green rug in my living room and the pale orange in my spare room . I can't wait to make this soup recipe inspired by one of the best Middle Eastern restaurants in Kansas City. It's comforting and delicious. I organized the heck out of my hall closet last month, and seeing colorful storage bins on the shelves makes my brain extra happy. I will take several pairs of Halloween slippers , please. This Instagram account is pure gold. My doctor recommended this probiotic (especially for PMS or PMDD), and I can already tell the difference after taking it for the past month. Thank God . I'm really into vintage faux flowers right now and bought several clusters of these tiny forget-me-nots (in all three colors). They're so cute . I love a good, affordable phone case that I can easily switch out when mine is starting to look dingy. I picked this one for obvious reasons! Thank you for following along! This has been really fun and therapeutic for me so far. If you're curious why I decided to start a blog (when I didn't plan to at all) you can read my first post here . xoxo, Jacki