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Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about identity and how we lose pieces of ourselves over time, and what it looks like to slowly come back to who we’ve always been. In this episode, I’m sharing what I’ve been rediscovering about myself, why old things have been speaking to me so deeply, and how I’m creating a home with secondhand pieces.
I’ll also share practical tips for finding the best vintage pieces, defining your own style, working with limitations, using what you already have, and why paint might just be the most underrated tool in your home. This is part reflection, part practical guide, and a little love letter to old things, imperfect homes, and becoming more yourself.
Podcast Episode Highlights:
- Thinking about our identities and coming back to ourselves
- What I’ve rediscovered about myself recently
- What I’ve been finding lately
- My thoughts on old things
- Tip #1: where I’m buying the best pieces
- Tip #2: figuring out a style
- Tip #3: Limitations as a guide and not a roadblock
- Tip #4: Look around your home
- Tip #5: Paint is the best
- Tip #6: Ask around
- Final thoughts
Resources Mentioned in This Podcast Episode:
- Stay tuned for my new cookbook: The Old-Fashioned on Purpose Cookbook: Timeless Recipes That Fit Your Modern Life, coming SOON in October 2026!!
- Find photos of some of my recent old finds in this post: https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/2026/06/the-girl-who-saw-treasure-in-junk.html
Other Helpful Resources:
Get weekly musings from my homestead: https://jillwinger.substack.com/
My homesteading tutorials & recipes: www.
Jill on Instagram: @jill.winger
Jill on Facebook: http://facebook.com/
Apply to be a guest on the Old-Fashioned on Purpose podcast: https://www.
Love this episode? Check out these:
- The Biggest & Hardest Transition of My Life (podcast episode)
- My New Old House (podcast episode)
- When Good Identities Become Cages (and how to break free) (podcast episode)
- My Relationship with Homesteading is Changing (podcast episode)
- A Reintroduction, of Sorts (podcast episode)
- Competence, Not Cosplay: How to Keep What Works, Drop the Rest (podcast episode)
- The Cage Was Never Locked (blog article)