The Youngest of Five

Where It All Began

Thrifting is My Therapy

I discovered thrifting after I was laid off in 2019. I needed of a desk for my "new" home office so I went to a local thrift store in search of a solid desk with a large surface area. When I walked in there it was, the most beautiful one of a kind desk I'd ever seen. An employee told me it was from a home in Lake Forest; the leg was broken and taped together, but he said it was an easy fix with a dowel. I bought it for $100, took it home and began to build my business ... wrote a business plan, chose a name, designed a logo, registered my LLC, created a Google Business Listing (formerly Google My Business) and got to work.      

When I wasn't at my desk, I found myself back at the thrift store(s) buying tea light candle holders (like 200+), tablecloths, jewelry, fiesta ware, artwork, clothing, coats, shoes, hats, purses, records, housewares, dog beds and more furniture. I discovered I was able to find almost anything I could need, want or dream of at a thrift store. That's when I decided I would continue to shop at thrift stores to save money on things so I could spend money on services and experiences.

It's been almost 5 years and I have more than things than I could ever need, want or dream of. It's a problem because I don't have room for any more stuff and I can't enjoy the things I have. I can't stop and it's because thrifting is my therapy:

1. unplug

2.  saves you money on new and used items

3.  it's like 50+ stores in 1

4.  you find your favorite brands and products and learn about new ones too

5.  magical moments - i.e. snowman candle holder

6.  it's a recycling practice

7.  you meet cool people, customers and workers

8.  most thrift stores support a cause greater than themselves

9.  unplug from technology

10.  you can go when you want, wear what you want, alone or with someone

11.   Keep them, give as gifts, donate

I don't plan to stop thrifting any time soon.

Why Do I Love Hearts?

To say I love hearts is an understatement.  They’re on my keychain and in every room of our home. We’ve got candle holders, dishes, jewelry, picture frames, keepsakes. Wooden hearts, metal hearts, paper hearts. Big hearts, little hearts, stitched hearts, soap hearts and more! It’s not a new thing for me, I’ve always loved them. As a kid I drew hearts, wore hearts and signed my notes and letters with them.  As an adult they pop up in places all the time, and I relish every encounter. Fortunately my husband and daughter support it wholeheartedly! 

I never questioned my love of hearts, I just knew they made me feel good. But recently I was going through an old box of photos and came across a picture of me from 1972. I’m in a crib at Cook County hospital waiting for or recovering from surgery to repair the holes in my heart. Born with a double outlet right ventricle and stenosis of the aorta, doctors said I’d never play sports. Mom got a second opinion and thankfully physical activities were never limited for me. 

Looking closely at the picture I see my sister in the crib beside me, a sense of normalcy in an otherwise unfamiliar setting :) Then I see IT, a ring of hearts around me. The hospital crib I stayed in had a baby bumper patterned in hearts surrounding me. When I saw it I instantly felt the same thing I do every time I see a heart - comfort.

I’ve heard a person’s memories begin at 6 years old, but that can’t be true. I remember feeling alone in a big, dark, cold room, wondering where everyone went . . . feeling scared when the nurse barked Roll Over and stuck me with a thermometer. I  imagine when my family went home for the night and the nurse finished her shift, I found comfort in MY hearts.

My final thought is that loneliness and fear replaced by ❤ is comfort everlasting.

The Youngest of Five

My father told me, “They’ll chew you up and spit you out.”  I decided he was jaded and bitter from forced early retirement, that he’d lost perspective.  I mean why else would he have left us all behind nearly 30 years before?  My mom, two brothers, two sisters and me?  A  dog, a cat, a house, and 2 cars?  Actually I think he took a car.  I was only 1.

IT must have been very important, really cool, super exciting, the chance of a lifetime!  He wore nice suits, drove nice cars, had nice houses and went on exotic trips.  He had a credit card for expenses, business meetings and dinners, he was On The Board of this and that, he was the General Manager at a TV station.  IT was so important, we could only see him once a year, sometimes.  

I ignored his advice, put on a suit, took the hour and a half train ride from Zion to Ogilvy Station, hopped a bus to Michigan Avenue and walked in to Prudential Plaza on election day 2000.  I was going to be important too.  18 ½ years later, Radio chewed me up and spit me out.  18 ½ years of hard work, contribution, success, awards, promotions, bonuses, sacrifice and commitment ended in a 30 second layoff.

I was shocked, confused, embarrassed, hurt, ashamed, angry, scared, lost, terrified, sad. And then, I was free.   Free to wake, sleep, dress, eat, work, relax, think, create and do as I please. 

For the first time in my adult life, I was free.  That’s when I decided I would never work for someone else again, not for their praise or promise, their promotion or paycheck.  

So yes, he was right. They chewed me up, spit me out and never looked back.  My bosses, co-workers, employees and peers.  And I’m eternally grateful.  If they hadn’t I’d still be there paying my dues, proving myself, living paycheck to paycheck, fighting office politics and climbing the corporate ladder, with only 3 weeks vacation, an uncertain future and a neglected home life.  

I have no regrets, I did what I needed to do for my family and myself at the time.  I  met some interesting people, learned a ton, made a few contributions and got a bit of recognition along the way. I trust my Dad did what he had to do as well.  Before IT happened, his dream was to own a bicycle shop in Colorado and fix bikes.  But, he learned early on that real men don’t dream.   Real men are strong, work hard, make lots of money and pay the bills.  At the height of his career, he said, “This is all I ever wanted, but now that I’m here it’s a big disappointment.”  After 10 more years he was forced into early retirement and recognized with 3 lines of text in the local paper. At 78 years old, he’s in poor health, still dreaming of his bike shop in the mountains. 

I’m 48 years young and have just begun dreaming again.  The past 9 months have been full with family, self reflection, exploration and living in faith.  I’ve leaned on God, my Mom, husband, daughter, sister, brothers, nieces, nephews, Dad, dogs, a couple friends and a few formerclients.  I discovered Google Skill Shop (formerly Academy of Ads), Yoga with Adriene, found an awesome desk, table and chairs at the local thrift store and started Organic Panda LLC.

The best part of working in radio was always the clients.   Together we created something from nothing and made the impossible possible.  Every project was different and each success or challenge it’s own.  That’s why I started Organic Panda LLC, to serve the marketing needs of small business owners as they pursue their dream and contribute to the community around them.  

If you made it to the end of this post, you must have connected with some part of my story - the career, the layoff, the dad.  Whatever it was, I hope you’ll come back for more. What can you expect in the future on The Youngest of Five?  Weekly blog posts that educate, encourage and highlight small business owners.  I’ll share tips, tools, business spotlights, case studies, personal stories, photos and more.  My content will be honest, authentic and engaging.  Above all else, The Youngest of Five will fulfill its mission to serve the needs of small business owners. 

If you’re a small business owner looking for help with your marketing efforts, please consider Organic Panda LLC.  Visit organicpanda.us to learn more about me and my work.  Feel free to email kdpandazi@gmail or call 847-445-4001, I’d love to hear from you.  If I can’t help you, I know someone who can.