jodimichelle : i tell stories.

[How to] benefit from thrifting

May 16, 2012 - by jodimichelle

I love thrift stores, Goodwill, junk yards, antique stores and dumpster diving. I love it so much that I stop on the side of road, often, to rescue something with potential. My kids think this is totally normal behavior. Aaron has learned to love this about me – here’s why:

I save a lot of money

With most of my finds being free (literally) and “in style” (refab, vintage, repurposed, industrial) we get the look we want for hundreds less. Sometimes the only thing needed is a bottle of spray paint, most of the time not even that. I don’t coupon, it stresses me out, not that I don’t strive for saving in our budget through deals or coupons … I just don’t practice grocery couponing and our kids eat all the time. Like, all the time. So it’s expensive to feed this house on a monthly basis … but since I spend almost nothing on decorating or redoing our homes it kind of comes out in the wash for us.

I always have an idea

With Pinterest – gathering ideas is easier than ever. I’m always on the lookout for DIY and how to’s that are easy to do and I find them via blogs all the time.

After reading about Young House Love’s nursery dresser I saw these babies in a local thrift store. Without seeing the idea I might have completely passed them up. I did a different finish on the dressers (we bought two) and now they’ve added character and functionality to each space we put them in. (see one in Jessica’s old bedroom below)

It’s never the same

I realize that, for some, this is the very reason they do not thrift. They don’t enjoy hunting, no matter how great a deal is. They want to walk in a store, see it, buy it and be done. If I have to step foot into a “regular” store I am all over this type of shopping; I only hunt while I’m “junking”. BUT I love that it’s never the same, that whatever I find probably won’t be available again. I do go enough that I’m aware of what’s “out” right now, so if I see something but want to think about it and someone else picks the item up in the meantime? I’m fairly confident that I can find something close enough (maybe better) if I decide to pull the trigger. Mainly though, the perk to this is that you’re really buying something unique.

Because I go often enough and am always checking out new places, when I see something “different” for a good price, I generally pick it up. Like the above tin. There are tins all over, but most of them have to do with Christmas. I had been looking for a tin for tea for a while when I came upon this one (for $2 even!) – I would have paid way more for a tin I liked because we drink tea every single day. This is an item I would be using constantly and maybe even passing it on to Jessica when she got her first place. I wanted something special, and I found it.

Materials are cheaper

If you sew, craft, make homemade gifts, can seasonal food, drool over etsy/pinterest, own a glue gun or love photos … you are spending way too much money buying your materials at retail prices.

I made this pouf with thrifted materials – 10 cents. The materials for this project cost me 10 cents. Even if it doesn’t turn out or I change my mind after one season of decorating, I’m fine with risking 10 cents on learning how to make one of these. Now I can play with other materials that I come across.

It takes time to familiarize yourself with what it might take to thrift in your comfort zone. I have NO problem bartering on the prices, some people do. I have no problem rifling through stuff to find what I’m looking for. I will totally knock on someone’s door if they have something sitting outside (and it looks abandoned) to see if it might be for sale (only if I’m serious and can pay for it right away).

Most people start with Goodwill or their local, trusted, thrift store – but they’re everywhere. Consignment shops CAN be good, but I mostly stick to legitimate donation based stores, or straight up antique markets and stores.

I probably missed something essential, so ask away in the comments, and while we’re chatting about all things thrift – I’m putting together details to take you all shopping with me! Thinking May 27th might be a great first shopping experience. From there we can move in to the individual mapping of great thrift stores in my area. I might make this a series for the summer on the blog if you’re interested.

OK, your turn!

Filed in: crafty inspiration, Jodi | 6 Comments
the porch

May 15, 2012 - by jodimichelle

It’s not a huge room but half of it is screens facing east (ish) and we feel the breeze.

I found these pallets behind our local Ace Hardware store (thanks guys!) for free. The blue ones are free, the others are $1.50.

Then I went to World Market to buy the cushion and pillows. The jury is still out.

My little succulent table is dreamy though.

It’s progress …

Filed in: House | 4 Comments
it’s not too late

May 14, 2012 - by jodimichelle

It’s not too late.

I’ve had these phrases on my mind a lot lately – this one, and also “God is faithful”.

I’ve had this internal struggle about writing this because although I want to say these things, I’m a coward. Then I decided that if it was a letter to my kids, I would just tell them like it is. So.

Jessica and Oliver,

As you’ve been privy to the last few years in this family, you know these struggles first hand. The doubt, the fighting, the crying. We all played a part in this demise. No one knowing how to do this differently, we all kind of just ran into each other consistently and figured we’d stick at some point.

Our words would stick, our rules, our ideas. Our dreams and hopes for the future. Maybe even our hands. If we threw enough words at each other maybe we’d get stuck in the slime and just find a hand to hold.

This season has been a long one for me and your dad. A hard one. A dry one. A desert with very little water, no horizon. Marriage is hard, I’ve said it before and Jessica – I will remind you over and over again, your ice cream isn’t done yet. Do not share your spoon yet. Wait. Please wait.

But then a root finally found a soil to sink in and these phrases have been popping up – literally out of nowhere – on my mind, constantly.

I couldn’t figure out what I was supposed to be doing with this story of mine. I’m so sick of parts of it, I’m currently dealing with the outcome of so much of it, I’m just so at a loss for how to go forward most days …

And then I was at a bridal shower for a cousin this past weekend, barely knowing almost everyone in attendance, and all of a sudden there was a whisper “Jodi, it’s not too late.”

It’s not too late.

It’s not too late to love your kids the way you know you can. It’s not too late for them to feel it. It’s not too late for your marriage. It’s not too late for you. It’s not too late! It’s not too late for your faith, God is faithful. It’s not too late to figure this out. It’s not too late for you to love yourself. It’s not too late to let go. Jodi, it’s not too late to start praying for healing. Jodi, it’s not too late to let them in. It’s not too late to let him love you, it’s not too late to trust that he always will. It’s not too late.

It’s not too late ….

And I marinated in that all day yesterday, Mother’s Day. Surrounded by the very people who have reminded me time and again that I’m worth the work to love. That for them, it’s never too late.

I gave up on a lot of things this past year – myself included. A belief that keeping a family together was something I was capable of. I gave up believing in my immediate family, that something I held so completely sacred was something so completely flawed. I gave that away. I couldn’t do it any more, no more pretending and lying. I didn’t want to be part of that history anymore – but I had no where to go to find a new map.

I’ve felt very destroyed for a long time.

And I have a long ways to go yet, but it’s not too late for me. And God is faithful. Like water rushing over rough stones, the steady current smoothes the jagged edges … some day someone might see me and see a jewel like a child would collect the perfect river bed stones for safekeeping.

These are the lessons I want your heart to hold, kids. It’s never too late and God is faithful. Even if you give your ice cream away, Jessica and Oliver … even if. And especially then.

It’s going to be ok.

Love,
Mom

Filed in: Letters for kids, naked on paper | 4 Comments
a new house: photos

May 11, 2012 - by jodimichelle

Ok ok ok. Here’s the house.

These are the shots I took (via iPhone) on my first pass through the house back in February. I didn’t get all the rooms – and apparently wanted, like, 18 shots of the basement. I’ll explain later.

UPSTAIRS:

Secret Room. (access to this room is off of Jessica’s bedroom.)

Jessica’s Closet.

Jessica’s room. (The mini open door on the right – is the secret room.) This is a nook in Jessica’s room.

Jessica’s room. Built in’s! So. Many. Built ins.

Oliver’s room. Closet, built ins.

Hallway upstairs, more built ins. Nooks. Crannies. Book shelves.

MAIN FLOOR:

Living room in front of the house. The front door comes into this room. There was an addition to the house – so the back of the house has another family room and … BUILT INS!

Kitchen. A small 5 ft fridge is literally built in (surprise!) the wall that Oliver is facing. Kind of.

Weird center section of the house (will one day be knocked out) full of storage and … Built ins! Odd hiding places for the kids, etc. To the left is part of the family room – to the right – dining and kitchen.

Part of the addition on the house – the family room. With skylight, fireplace and so much paneling.

Part of the family room (opens up to the addition) this used to be a bedroom, as part of the original house. But now it’s a gun case built in! And future bathroom expansion.

Dining room/kitchen. Part of the addition – more built ins! I love these cupboards and more than half of them are empty. Oh storage. And dutch folks. (The door to the right is the door to the screened in porch)

BASEMENT:

Oliver is standing in the “laundry room” – the wall to his left is the basement bathroom and only shower in the house.

When you come down the stairs – you walk into this room. A homeschooling room? We can’t decide what it was … but what it WILL be is an expanded laundry area and love nest for Jodi’s creativity.

ANOTHER ROOM! So much room, you guys. And so many built in work shop areas and desks. I love them. LURVE them. This will be offices. You can bother Aaron about these.

I’m a cellar. Also, I have built ins.

Built ins – see above photo.

SO. That’s the inside of the house raw, before we moved in.

Not pictured: The main floor bath and master bedroom. Or should I say the bedroom on the main floor – better suited as a closet. Oh wait.

So far we’ve moved in. Painted the main floor bath, replaced the kitchen sink and main bath sink, added a washer and dryer and torn out a TON of overgrown weeds from the landscaping.

More to come.

Filed in: House, Photos | 4 Comments
I’m that school parent

May 11, 2012 - by jodimichelle

I have these ideas of how the year will go every September when we send our kids to the first day of school. We’ll be on top of it! I have a calendar! I’m going to volunteer and bake cookies and be the classroom mom. PTA or PTO? I don’t even know what it’s called anymore – but I am going to sit in a chair on the board? Or is it …

Oh god. It’s May and I’m getting notes home from the teachers that we’ve missed eleven days of reading homework. We moved 3 times in the last 21 months and Jessica is supposed to memorize her address. If this isn’t messing things up for her, I’m not sure what is.

via jodimichelle on flickr

I want to be involved and on top of the forest of papers that comes home – but not only do we have first grade memorabilia, we have preschool and day care too. And everyone has a book fair at the same time. It’s teacher appreciation week no matter where I drop them off and there are opportunities for cookies and muffins and popcorn parent volunteers.

Part of me wants to scream at the school because Are you fucking kidding me? I see the merit in homeschooling. When Jessica’s bored and we make noise, we get scolded for thinking that what she’s getting isn’t enough – but when we fall behind, even though she’s doing great and not falling behind, we get black booked as Those Parents.

And I own it. I am that parent this year. I probably was last year too. I just cannot get on top of this life, but now we have a place that I don’t have to pack up again – for ever. I don’t have to worry about where my dishes are going to live in a year. I don’t have to worry about school districts or neighborhoods, back yards and fences. I can stop being anxious about the unknown – because even though we still have all kinds of unknown; atleast it’s our unknown.

via jodimichelle on flickr

My kids are happy and well adjusted. Jessica makes friends easily and is a star at school, I’m pretty sure. She gives us all the grief and attitude at home – which I’m thankful for, so that her experience at school is one of positive reinforcements and cultivating friendships and nurturing talents. She gets in the car after school and pretty much falls apart. It took us 9 months to figure out that doing homework on the way home was onebilliontimesohmygod better than forcing her to sit through it once we got home.

This is my first time as a parent through school. I don’t know all the rules; where I’m allowed to push back or expect better. I also don’t know where I’m allowed to fail, if at all. It doesn’t seem so. I wouldn’t have much grace for her school if I felt it was failing her, so I’m not sure why I expect the school to have grace for me – when I’m so obviously failing it.

I’m not writing this because I’m disappointed in our school experience this year. I love love love Jessica’s teachers – I’m not so sure the secretaries love hearing me call almost Every.Single.Day with a question that I’m sure was answered in one of the 18 pamphlets sent home from school – but I can’t find anything right now and I’m ok with being the dumb parent who has to call all the time.

I think I just expected more out of me. I wonder if they do, too.

via jodimichelle on flickr

But they didn’t get a mom who president of the committee who bakes cookies for every meeting/function/event. They didn’t get the mom who shuttles them around to Brownies and Girl Scouts, who signs up to coach their little league, or even offers them extra-circular activities on top of all our other responsibilities.

They got me and by some stroke of luck – I got them.

I think we’ll make it and hopefully by next year we’ll find a rhythm.

Filed in: Insane parenting, Jodi, School | 1 Comment
{A video} on a road trip dream

May 9, 2012 - by jodimichelle

(Yes, I know “Someday” is spelled wrong in the video – a tribute to spellcheck will live on forever.)

This post started it all and now in just 4 short weeks I get to roll in to the carpool lane, pick up my Pixie, and head West.

[We'll] drink sweet tea on porches by moonlight and [I'll] let my daughter man the camera all the while.

We’ll sing old timey songs, buy ridiculously too-big sun glasses and sun hats, drive with her feet perched outside the window and drink from striped straws every chance we get.

I want to make it as far away as possible without actually getting anywhere. Maybe we’ll drive 20 miles in the span of 5 hours – stopping at every grassy knoll to pick flowers, have a pic-nic or browse junk piles on the road.

We’ll stop at every “Worlds Largest!” tourist trap, spontaneously swim in un-found creeks with baby waterfalls. We’ll talk.

We’ll hold hands.

We’ll have bubble gum contests and cry from laughing so hard. We’ll perfect peeing on the side of the road.

We’ll stay off the mainstream highways, promising each other to look for every dead end and take it.

First Grade is almost over, it’d be just me and her. Her and I. Together. With sunshine and flip flops and ~~an old, trusty Ford~~ a Jetta forging the way to a dream come true.

My stomach flips just thinking about it. I am so excited.

Filed in: Jessica, Jodi, Videos | 5 Comments
Let’s catch up

May 8, 2012 - by jodimichelle

I’ve been a busy girl and we’ve got exciting things happening – here’s where I tell you all about them and get you excited about what’s to come AND THEN, here’s where you tell me what you’ve got going on, because friends: I am your cheerleader.

Ra-Ra!

A few weeks ago this happened and it was awesome.

via jodimichelle on flickr.

Then I was part of the Mom’s Night Out event with Mom’s in Tow (link) where there was fun had by all and donations were out of control:

via jodimichelle on flickr.

It was such a fun event to be a part of; pampering all you ladies and listening to live music.

WOOHOO! I’m gearing up to take this trip with Jessica in a month.

Details: I’ll be leaving on June 6th and heading Westward. No plans, specifically, but if you have ideas – leave them in the comments here or in that specific post. I’ve also started a Pinterest Board dedicated to all the things we might want to see or do (or helpful hints) on this very special trip. I’d love for you to contribute to the board (I can add you, just ask) and to be a huge part of making this dream come true.

I’m going on this adventure no matter what, but if you’re interested in getting behind it in any way – we’ve got some fun ideas to contribute to your possible involvement and you can email Christi or myself for details, specifics or questions or simply leave a comment.

I’ve been talking my head off over at Turnstone lately – here’s what’s been on my mind:

Upcycle an old spring
10 reasons to leave your desk because I said so.
An office and it’s walkability
Desktop yoga, let’s get stretchy!
Let’s hang out

And on Curvy Girl Guide I’ve tackled a few kitchen quandaries for you:

Oh, except first I talk about my bad parenting: The cardinal sins of babysitting
3 ingredient margarita’s
Gourmet murder let’s eat a live sea creature, I’ll show you how to kill it first.
This shrimp cocktail will change your life … no more shrimp cocktails that fall flat and boast indigestion and heartburn.
Raspberry bran muffins
Totes Adorbs: easy DIY doughnuts.

So, now that we’re caught up: what’s exciting on your end? What are you doing soon to make your dreams come true – and how can I help?

Filed in: Jodi, Link-a-a-day | 2 Comments
I can’t make this up

May 7, 2012 - by jodimichelle

All I need to do is stand back watch this stuff happen to us:

So, you might have heard, that we found out post-signatures for deed’s to this house, that we actually own twice as much land as we originally thought. We have an extra lot that is bigger than the one our house sits on. The listing agent stopped by after we were settled to give us the extra keys and garage door opener and when I asked him about it he simply said “Oh yea, forgot to mention that!”

Obviously, he is my favorite.

Last week was Oliver’s birthday excitement (he is four, I don’t want to talk about it.) and his birthday wish was “To be a girl!” He wants to wear a dress, you see. Insert Romans, Vikings, Ireland, Greeks … I am now teaching my kid about History and Revolutions because, duh?, boys are allowed to wear dresses.

While we were moving in (and still are) the kids’ favorite thing to do is ride bikes on the sidewalk – but not before Oliver takes his pillow outside and lays underneath them to “fix them” like a mechanic. It’s the cutest thing in the world, forever and ever amen.

I literally lost track of Aaron and Jessica this weekend – Jessica was playing in our yard and Aaron was supervising/organizing the garage and I went out to tell them dinner was ready – but for 40 minutes couldn’t find either one of them. 32 minutes into my freak out (and 7 angry phone calls and about 13 explicit texts to Aaron) I realize his phone is in our bedroom. Not in his pocket. I freaked out. A lot. Hi neighbors! I’m crazy!

On the bright side: there are kids in our neighborhood and we have trees for tree-houses possibilities. I’ve been digging in the dirt and planning a garden. I’m researching goats and chickens … not for now, but some day. And I actually said this out loud “I want a bunny”. Me and animals? admire each other from afar. I’m not really the furry kind of person. Fish are fun!

What’s happening with you guys?

Filed in: Jodi, This-n-that | 3 Comments
a letter to a house, off line

May 1, 2012 - by jodimichelle

Because House, I am going to love you. And before I fall asleep on your wood floor for the first time I’m going to give you all my grief. Just incase you think you want to let your roof fall in or have your water heater break the day after we move in: first I’m going to install all my pain in your walls as I wail out the patience and sacrifice of the past 2 years into the wood beams of your cinderblock structure. And I’m going to fall against your walls and let you catch me.

I’m going to break and be just as disheveled as you are so we can rebuild each other, one room at a time. On day at a time. Paint colors and flooring options. Reclaimed wood and industrial lighting. You and I, House. We’re going to save each other from being condemned.

An address I’m not in love with is going to be number I write on my soul. One-seventy. The first house my adult person has ever really lived in. A present to be present.

xoxo

Filed in: House, Jodi, naked on paper, Thinking | Leave a comment
confessions

May 1, 2012 - by jodimichelle

I am somewhat of an outspoken knowitall on moving. I mean, I’ve only done it 23874858p7263o5132sdiug times. This last time? As in just 4 days ago … was more of a clusterfuck than an organized move. I had boxes but didn’t bother to label them.

We didn’t systematically pack the house and move by room, we kind of just took stuff out of one house (in the rain) and put it in the back of a semi, moved it to the new house’s garage and repeated that process for 3 days (the semi, only one day).

I did, however, make a Moving Checklist and knocked all of those to-do’s out of the park. Change address, check! Change utilities, check! Buy washer and dryer, check! Check check check!

And then we had the plumber install a gas line for said dryer yesterday and almost 6 hours (and 2 new sinks) later … he left.

I had sick kids yesterday and no water for over 5 hours. I didn’t shower until 7 last night and while I was showering the water started backing up.

Home ownership, guys. I missed the hell out of it.

No, I’m serious. This is so much fun. Don’t let my random, frustrated stream of consciousness lead you down the road of doubt for me.

Happy Tuesday! It’s Washer and Dryer delivery day. Also kids back in school day and catch up on work day. It’s make more coffee day and ponder life’s tough questions concerning Rustoleum paint colors day! It’s unpack a box day and clean something disgusting day, it’s mow the lawn already day and make a dream come true day. It’s get a trash can day and walk to the garden nursery day, it’s a BIG SURPRISE for the kids day and get some damn groceries day.

It’s such a great day.

Filed in: House, In Order | Leave a comment

I save a lot of money

I always have an idea

It’s never the same

Materials are cheaper

WOOHOO! I’m gearing up to take this trip with Jessica in a month.