Saturday, February 14, 2015
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Our Slow Journey to a Tiny House or Small Home
2015 is our year to get ready for a smaller footprint. We are decluttering, rethinking, researching, and on our way to a smaller home, perhaps even a tiny house. It is nice to have a year to get ready, makes a slower gentler process possible.
"What makes you think you can live in a smaller space?" A question some ask, often in a round about sort of way.
For me, I have done it before!
When I was younger, I lived on a 42 foot boat with my family (5 of us). It was an incredible experience! I never missed "stuff."
When my daughters were younger, we moved to Oahu, Hawaii. The five us lived in 1,000 sq feet. While not a "tiny house," it did show me that we do not need that much space. We later lived on Maui, also in about 1,000 sq feet.
Fast forward to 2012 or as my husband and I call it, "Our Year of Being Homeless" (in the BEST sense of the word)! Our plan was not to be "homeless" it just happened. We returned to the mainland from Maui and were not sure where we wanted to live. I should also mention that we were job-less at the time. In January, we stayed with family, a hotel, and later a small two-bedroom rental. Then a job came in February...which required a lot of travel. So, we just traveled...all year! My youngest daughter (age 21 at the time) was with us part of the time and the older two visited when we were in exciting places like NYC. We stayed in all sorts of places...mostly small places, so I know we can do small. The two things about the year I'd rather not repeat...do not bring two suitcases (one will do just fine..."Less IS More"...it really is, even for a year) AND avoid hurricanes! We just happened to be in NJ for Hurricane Sandy!
Back to the whole tiny house idea...not sure if we can do a tiny house, but I know we can do a small home. We keep flirting with the tiny house idea though...Tiny House Nation makes it look very doable!
"What makes you think you can live in a smaller space?" A question some ask, often in a round about sort of way.
For me, I have done it before!
When I was younger, I lived on a 42 foot boat with my family (5 of us). It was an incredible experience! I never missed "stuff."
When my daughters were younger, we moved to Oahu, Hawaii. The five us lived in 1,000 sq feet. While not a "tiny house," it did show me that we do not need that much space. We later lived on Maui, also in about 1,000 sq feet.
 |
| Our view in Kaneohe |
Fast forward to 2012 or as my husband and I call it, "Our Year of Being Homeless" (in the BEST sense of the word)! Our plan was not to be "homeless" it just happened. We returned to the mainland from Maui and were not sure where we wanted to live. I should also mention that we were job-less at the time. In January, we stayed with family, a hotel, and later a small two-bedroom rental. Then a job came in February...which required a lot of travel. So, we just traveled...all year! My youngest daughter (age 21 at the time) was with us part of the time and the older two visited when we were in exciting places like NYC. We stayed in all sorts of places...mostly small places, so I know we can do small. The two things about the year I'd rather not repeat...do not bring two suitcases (one will do just fine..."Less IS More"...it really is, even for a year) AND avoid hurricanes! We just happened to be in NJ for Hurricane Sandy!
 |
| Post Hurricane Sandy |
Back to the whole tiny house idea...not sure if we can do a tiny house, but I know we can do a small home. We keep flirting with the tiny house idea though...Tiny House Nation makes it look very doable!
Monday, February 9, 2015
The Capsule Kitchen Challenge Update
In January, I started The Capsule Kitchen Challenge. Basically, you choose 33 items of food to use for three months. The goal is to simplify meal planning, save time, and save money! For me, it has done all that and more! We are eating healthier, too!
After about three weeks of doing this challenge, we had an unexpected trip out-of-state to help my mother-in-law declutter, pack, and get ready to move into a better situation for her. I packed up a cooler full of many of my 33 items, took a quick trip to the grocery store for some items I was out of, and took it all with us. While I cannot say we stuck to the 33 items the whole week, I can say that meal planning was much easier, we saved money, and putting together meals that week was much less stressful than it might have been given the circumstances.
Currently, I am on a trip. At least part of the time, I'll have access to a small kitchen or kitchenette. I am still sticking to the 33 items (so far). It made grocery shopping a breeze once I got to my first destination! Since, I do not have an oven and I do not use a microwave, I edited my recipes. However, "When in Rome" will come into play...at least a couple days I'll be in the Napa/Sonoma area and will be enjoying some of my favorite places to eat there!
As part of the challenge, I stopped eating sugar and with the exception of my birthday (I ate one small piece of my birthday cake), I have not had any sugar!!
After about three weeks of doing this challenge, we had an unexpected trip out-of-state to help my mother-in-law declutter, pack, and get ready to move into a better situation for her. I packed up a cooler full of many of my 33 items, took a quick trip to the grocery store for some items I was out of, and took it all with us. While I cannot say we stuck to the 33 items the whole week, I can say that meal planning was much easier, we saved money, and putting together meals that week was much less stressful than it might have been given the circumstances.
Currently, I am on a trip. At least part of the time, I'll have access to a small kitchen or kitchenette. I am still sticking to the 33 items (so far). It made grocery shopping a breeze once I got to my first destination! Since, I do not have an oven and I do not use a microwave, I edited my recipes. However, "When in Rome" will come into play...at least a couple days I'll be in the Napa/Sonoma area and will be enjoying some of my favorite places to eat there!
As part of the challenge, I stopped eating sugar and with the exception of my birthday (I ate one small piece of my birthday cake), I have not had any sugar!!
 |
| My kitchen for this week |
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
February Travel Capsule Wardrobe
Saturday, I am heading to California (mostly the San Jose/San Francisco/Napa area) for about five weeks. During this time period, I may also have to fly to the East Coast. So, I am bringing layers, since the weather may vary.
Here is what I am bringing...
These 21 items are all part of my Project 333 wardrobe for January to March.
Here is what I am bringing...
 |
| Pants, camis, and one tank top |
 |
| Purse, scarf, and coat |
 |
| Tops and sweaters |
Even though I am driving to California, I may have to fly elsewhere during this time, so it is important that everything fits into one carry-on suitcase.
My neutrals are black and grey and my accent colors are purple, wine, and teal. I have so many different combinations I can make with these pieces and most of them I can hand wash in the sink, if needed.
Pants:
Black
Grey
Jeans
Camis:
Wine
Black
Grey
Tanks:
Black
Teal
Tops:
Black knit wrap shirt
Grey and black tunic
Grey, black, and white short sleeve
Purple knit wrap shirt
Wine short sleeve
Lightweight Sweaters:
Black
Teal
Outerwear:
Black coat
Purple purse
Purple, grey, and black scarf
Not pictured here:
Boots
Ballet flats
Black dress
My complete current Project 333 on Pinterest.
Pants:
Black
Grey
Jeans
Camis:
Wine
Black
Grey
Tanks:
Black
Teal
Tops:
Black knit wrap shirt
Grey and black tunic
Grey, black, and white short sleeve
Purple knit wrap shirt
Wine short sleeve
Lightweight Sweaters:
Black
Teal
Outerwear:
Black coat
Purple purse
Purple, grey, and black scarf
Not pictured here:
Boots
Ballet flats
Black dress
My complete current Project 333 on Pinterest.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Books
On my journey to see what to find out what "minimalism" works best for me, I have decluttered many items that do not serve my life right now. Books have been the hardest items to part with over the years. However, we have gone from a whole room/library of books to much less! Recently, I "right sized" to what is shown in this picture. Many of these books I am using for courses I am currently taking.
(Full disclosure: I have a Kindle. It took a while to get used to not holding a book in my hands, but my favorite books are all on Kindle.)
(Full disclosure: I have a Kindle. It took a while to get used to not holding a book in my hands, but my favorite books are all on Kindle.)
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