When you have a small home, outdoor space can be such a blessing. Sick of your spouse? Go outside. Need a change of scenery? Go outside. Wanna feel fancy AF? Eat outside.
George and I knew we wanted to create a sort of “outdoor room” in our backyard, but we didn’t have a lot of money to do it. A deck would’ve been both expensive and time-consuming because we’d have to get a permit to do it.
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As someone who has lived in 188 square feet, those tiny house TV shows really grind my gears. Let’s all be honest here, yes, living in a tiny house can greatly improve your life. But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows like those TV shows make it out to be. So today I’m spilling the beans and revealing five things no one tells you about living in a tiny house.
I hate when I find an item at the thrift store or flea market that is perfect, except for one flaw. Maybe it’s stained or the wrong color. I had been gathering a little collection of these almost-perfect items, but they had been gathering dust because I didn’t know what to do with them. Luckily when the folks at Eclectic Products reached out to me, I knew I had the perfect projects to upcycle. Eclectic Products, makers of Famowood have a new product called Unicorn Spit that is a gel stain and glaze can be used in a variety of different applications– including wood, fabric and glass.
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When I first envisioned my guest room, I imagined painting a large-scale mural on the wall. But once I began painting it was just a big, ol’ mess. Just about everything that could go wrong with the mural went wrong. The lines weren’t crisp and clean, then when I went to sand them down and start over, the paint started peeling off the wall. (I think I bought the wrong finish.) It was disaster after disaster. So, I let myself be sad about it for a day and brainstormed other options. I kept thinking of Piet Mondrian‘s geometric paintings and how I could create something similar. Using wood seemed to be much easier for someone with little background in painting (i.e. me!). It also seemed like it might be able to add some much-needed dimension to the room. Win-win!
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We finally completed the guest room and it feels good! Well… to be honest, “Guest room” is kind of a loose term. Our guest room rarely functions like a guest room. We use it to store stuff for our business, pack orders and take pictures. So, it needed it to be light and bright, have good storage, and function as a room for the rare guest.
First, let’s take a trip down memory lane, shall we?
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So you’ve made it through Marie Kondo-ing your whole house or just a big decluttering session? (Here’s 25 ways to declutter if you still need help!) Great! Now the problem is what to do with all that stuff?!
The easy thing is to just dump it all off at Goodwill. And I get that. But unfortunately dropping your stuff off at a thrift store doesn’t mean it will get into the hands of people that need it. Goodwill does some great things, but there are other organizations and people out there who can benefit from your “junk.”
This list is in no way comprehensive and will vary by location. The best thing you can do is Google your area and where you wish to donate items. Then, call them and ask if they are accepting donations. It’s easier than you think!
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It seems like everyone lately is on a “tidying up” spree. I think it’s a combo of #newyearnewyou and that Marie Kondo show on Netflix. (Have you watched it?) Selling your old stuff can be a powerful incentive to get rid of something and it might just help you reach a goal. How great would it be to make an extra mortgage payment from your old junk or to be able to pay for a vacation? So today, I’m going to teach you how!
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Happy holidays! I hope you all had a safe, fun and most importantly, relaxing holiday. I’ve had lots of time to think about the wonderful things I’ve been able to accomplish in the past year. It’s been a truly wonderful year. I’ve also had time to think about the goals and things I want to accomplish in the upcoming year. I want to do so much! But in some ways, I also want to do less.
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Attach a funny key tag to your holiday gifts for a memorable presentation!
It’s that time of year again… are you ready?
TBH, the holidays stress me out and I like to start shopping and wrapping early. I know it’s hard to shop for minimalists, I get that. I’ve even written a post about Gifts for Minimalists. But I’ve also received feedback from many loved ones and readers that they still like giving a little something along with the gift card, cash or minimalist-friendly gift. And I totally get that!
Perfect for your boogie van keys!
That’s why I designed these cute, funny key tags— attach them to a present or stuff them in a stocking. They make a great gift for your favorite Ozzy or Eddie fan. They also make a great gift for mamas and people who are always forgetting their keys– i.e. me! You can purchase them in the shop.
Perfect for the guy or gal who always loses their keys!
And until December 1st, I’m donating half of my proceeds to the Adopt an Elder program. A program which provides Navajo elders with firewood and food. “Elders in the program range from 75 to over 100 years of age. Many live in hogans or simple structures with no running water and some have no electricity.” I’d love to be able to raise the $231.63 needed to provide an elder with food run boxes for the year.
I hope you have a low-key (pun intended) Thanksgiving holiday!
This week was a whirlwind. We had so much to do and so little time. I feel like I sound like a broken record, but again, weather was not our friend. If I’m going to do this challenge again, I won’t choose an outdoor room. I think I was a little too ambitious for my first go-round. But, BUT! We finished! Our small home porch makeover is done! Continue reading