December 2013 – Schoolhouse Salvage

Joyfear

Posted on December 31, 2013April 10, 2014 by amy cseh

The first time I came across the concept of “One Little Word” was about five years ago when reading Ali Edward’s blog around this time of year. Ali is a beautiful writer and curator of her family’s memories through a variety of mediums including paper and digital scrapbooking. Although I don’t find the time right now to stay current with recording my children’s memories, I can certainly appreciate her blog. So back to the One Little Word concept….each year Ali selects one word that she keeps front and center all year in her life and in her own words…

“And what do you do with this one little word?

You live with it. You invite it into you life. You let it speak to you. You might even follow where it leads. There are so many possibilities.”

Through Ali I came across The Art of Living By Leo Babauta and his description and definition of “joyfear”.

“Joyfear. Joy is an awesome thing to have, but joyfear is present in the powerful moments in life where joy and fear mix, where we’re taking chances and doing something outside of our comfort zone that both excites us and makes us face the possibility of failure. I now embrace these moments rather than avoiding them.”

This is my word for this coming year. 2013 was filled with amazing life changes that were filled with fear and joy all rolled into one experience and it was an awesome ride. We look forward to more possibilities and memories in 2014 and welcome the joyfear and embrace the ride. Dreams are only achieved if we move forward and make them happen and that comes with a bit of joyfear.

Hop over to Ali’s blog and see if One Little Word is a concept that may enrich your life or allow you to stop and ponder where you are, where you would like to be and how you may possibly enrich your life and the life of others.

From our family to yours, Happy New Year. #gojunk!

I Hold On

Posted on December 13, 2013March 31, 2014 by amy cseh

If you are a picker or collector or lover of home decor then most likely you hold on to certain items when you find them. Me? I hold on to ladders for sure. This one is from my husband’s father and was in two pieces. This is the longer piece and the hubs hung it on the wall for me to make an unusual display.

I have a steel ladder that I rescued from my old high school that was used for roof access that now leans in the corner of my dining room as a stocking holder for the holidays. I have a ladder out on the patio that I decorate seasonally. If that’s not enough, we have stockpiled many shapes and sizes of ladders at the warehouse. My pickers know that anytime they come across wood ladders to bring them my way. There are endless options for using these and since many people throw wood ladders by the wayside for metal ladders they are a cheap and easy to find accessory. I have a friend that has decorated an a frame ladder as their Christmas tree and it is amazing. What do you hold on to? #iholdon #gojunk!

A Year of Changes

Posted on December 11, 2013March 31, 2014 by amy cseh

The past 12 months has been a year of significant changes for my career and our family lifestyle. Early December of 2101 I decided to quit my career of 17 years (rather abruptly) and devote all of my time and energy to the business I share with my husband. Leaving a steady paycheck for the unsure path of self employment was not an easy or stress free decision but looking back I can say with 100% certainty the decision was entirely right for me and Ron and our children. We have managed to grow our construction business 10 fold in the past 12 years and our quality of life has been changed dramatically for the better as well. We are able to be home for our children when we need to and work the business around family commitments. Small business ownership is not easy but the career I left behind was not easy either.

Around that same time (as if one life changing decision is not enough) Ron and I also decided to start a salvage and resale business with my parents. The idea was born from one specific project where we were able to rescue truckloads of items from a building being demolished and save them from certain death at the landfill. Over the past 12 months our little warehouse and online business has been welcomed in the community with open arms. Northeast Ohio (and throughout the country online) has been tremendously supportive of our adventure and for that we couldn’t be more grateful.

With four children and a new puppy in the house you can imagine that this year has indeed been busy but we wouldn’t want it any other way. With the unending support of my husband I was able to take several leaps of faith this past year and the life I lead now if so very worth it. They say that once you find your passion that you will never “go to work” everyday and that is very true for me and Ron. I’m sure things will continue to grow and change for us but if this past year is any indication of what is to come then bring it on!

Many thanks to the loyal shoppers that continue to come in and love our junk! To those that haven’t yet made your way to the “dark side” of decorating with junk, please join this crazy trip….you will be amazed at what we find. #gojunk!