When it comes to inspiration, Ramshackle Glam delivers. After all, Jordan Reid, the gorgeous woman behind the blog is an original cast member of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, a crafty DIY aficionado, mother-to-be, wife of musician Kendrick Strauch, freelance correspondent for BetterTV, and the provider of our “haphazard guide to happiness” via her lifestyle blog. Without further explanation, I’m extremely excited to kick off my new segment, Take 5, with none other than Jordan Reid!

I bartended at RedLine and Daedalus, so I spent a lot of time hanging out at those spots (because…you know…free martinis). I also loved Noch’s, was a big fan of Arrow St. Crepes (which I think is gone), and spent many hours at the Kong dancing and drinking Scorpion Bowls. I also spent a lot of time sitting in the black box theater at the American Repertory Theater during off hours – it’s where I did some of my best studying.

My favorite escape spot is Mexico, mostly because it can be so affordable – my husband and I went for our anniversary a couple of years ago, and managed to spend a week at an all-inclusive for $700 each…including airfare. I also love day trips to the Hudson Valley (especially Cold Spring) and weekends camping at the Delaware Water Gap.

My favorite projects are ones that my loved ones can actually use: Lucy’s dog bed (her favorite spot in our entire apartment) and the blanket I just knitted for our son (who’s arriving in October) top the list at the moment. But I probably get the most compliments on our chalkboard refrigerator.

Way back when I first started blogging (in September of 2009) I used the phrase to describe a chandelier that I spotted in Gracious Home. It just perfectly encapsulated my approach to everything from the way I cook to the way I decorate to the way I dress.

Oh, goodness…anything my mom has ever said, probably. But my husband is the one who taught me that treating others with kindness and respect is always - always - the right thing to do. It’s easy to get caught up in thinking that being cutthroat is the only way to get ahead, but in my experience, that not only isn’t the case…it isn’t the point.