After a weekend of extroverting, this introvert needs some time alone. But it’s not always easy in a small house– especially I am very sensitive to noise and distractions. Here’s what I’ve found helpful to have alone time in a small house.
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One of the best parts about having a small home is that there’s less to clean. That doesn’t mean my home is always spotless. In fact, I make a mess most days. And in a small space, small messes can look BIG.
But keeping a clean, tidy space is important for my mental health & over the last 10 years of living in small spaces I’ve learned a few tips and tricks. Here’s some of my best tricks to keep my small space clean and sparkly:
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It’s the new year and I’m getting the itch to change up my space. But as usual, I don’t have a lot of extra cash lying around. So what’s a gal to do? Well, I’ll tell you what I’m going to do, I’m going to… Continue reading
When you live in a small space, holiday decor can be a challenge. I want to be festive, but I also don’t want to have stuff to put into storage for 11 months out of the year. Over the years I’ve come up with and come across lots of easy and cheap holiday decor ideas for small spaces. Let’s get our decorating on! Continue reading
I’ve got a few super exciting, super secret things planned for A Small Life. But before I can launch those, I want to implement a mailing list where I am going to release exclusive content twice a month that will encourage you to build a smaller and happier life. This is content that will not appear on the blog.
You’ll also be the first to know about e-books, classes and consulting to help you get rid of stuff, so you can get to livin’!
Don’t worry, I hate spam as much as the next girl, that’s why your inbox will never be flooded with long-winded, salesy (and sleazy) emails. Just make sure you add me to your email list so I don’t end up on your spam list!
Just enter your email below to subscribe. I’m forever thankful for you all.
Ya’ll know I’m all about minimalism. I love living with less. It’s a great lifestyle, but I also know that I’m a human being and we human beings do need some stuff to live. It’s unavoidable. My favorite products are the products that have more than one use. You know, those things that can shine your hair, shine your shoes and help you make an omelet. Today I’m sharing some of my favorite and the best 2-in-1 (or 20-in-1) products for living small.
Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps Pure-Castile Soap, 18-in-1 Hemp Lavender, 32-Ounce
I adore this soap! It replaces both my soap and shampoo. I can wash the dishes with it and I’ve even given Bambi a bath with it! The lavender scent is my favorite– it’s super calming. (For those times when cleaning puts me in a fit of rage!) You can see all the 18 uses here.
Nature’s Way Extra Virgin Organic Coconut Oil, 32-Ounce
Coconut oil is my favorite oil to cook with. It has a high smoke point and it adds a touch of sweetness to whatever I’m cooking. I also use coconut oil on my hair, skin and nails. It’s kind of a wonder product.
YS Organic Bee Farms CERTIFIED ORGANIC RAW HONEY 100% CERTIFIED ORGANIC HONEY Raw, Unprocessed, Unpasteurized – Kosher 32oz
Honey is another one of those essential kitchen beautician tools. Honey tastes great, obviously, but you can also use it to condition dry hair and as a natural antiseptic. I also love to substitute honey for sugar in baked goods– it makes banana bread super soft and delicious.
Heinz White Vinegar Distilled, 128 oz
Vinegar has a million uses. I use it to clean my bathroom, to make pickles, to get out stains and so much more. (For more vinegar uses check out this link.) And it’s so, so cheap!
Johnson and Johnson Baby Oil, 20 Ounce
I know I’ve professed my love for baby oil before but, seriously, there’s nothing like it. Baby oil is the only thing that locks in moisture on my dry alligator skin and it also shines my shoes. (And it’s not even made of babies!)
Blendtec TB-621-20 Total Blender, Black
I’ll be the first to admit that this blender is not cheap. (Although I’ve seen some great coupons and deals out there for it.) But when my last blender and food processor broke at the same time, I said “NO MORE!” I plan to never buy another blender or food processor because this blender is a wonder. It chops, purees and smoothies like no blender I’ve ever had. It also serves as a food processor and markets itself as “the last blender you’ll ever own.” I’m planning on it, buddy.
Fire HD 6, 6″ HD Display, Wi-Fi, 8 GB – Includes Special Offers, Black
When I was first downsizing, I lamented my physical book collection. “Reading on a screen just isn’t the same!” I wined. But I’ve since come over to the dark side. Amazon Prime eligible books have been the main reason for my change in mindset. The selection is vast and with Amazon Prime, the books are free on my Kindle. Don’t tell my public library this, but I almost like it better than the library’s e-books because there’s no wait and I don’t have to finish the book in 2 weeks!
Prime Instant Video
Cable was easy for us to give up when we were downsizing. Movies and the occasional TV series (hello, RuPaul’s Drag race!) was much harder. Sometimes I just need some escapism, okay?! After I got Amazon Prime, I even dumped Netflix because the Prime selection was that great. I really can’t recommend Amazon Prime more.
Pandora
Pandora is one of my favorite free services. Their streaming radio service has replaced the need to carry a binder full of CDs around in my car. (Really, I used to do that.) It’s also helped me to discover a lot of new music serendipitously– which is the best way to find things. Pandora One is their upgraded service which allows for ad free listening. It would be a great Christmas present for any small space dweller. Hint, hint!
What’s your favorite 2-in-1 products for living small? Let me know in the comments!
love,
melanie
Please note, the above post contains affiliate links. By clicking on the links and buying the product, I receive a small commission. The opinions about the products are my own. Programs like this help to keep my blog running. Thank you for your support!
A typical gluten-free meal for me. Yes, that’s a lot of mayo.
Now children, gather round, I’m going to tell you a deeply personal story. Once upon a time in grad school I started to get very, very sick. I had debilitating stomach pain. I was hospitalized several times. I had mysterious rashes, unexplained tiredness and nausea. I knew every bathroom within a 50 mile radius of my apartment. It was a miserable, unpleasant, and downright scary time. Sometimes the stomach pain would get so bad, I would think “ok, this is the end. I’m really lucky I didn’t decide to get a cat so he wouldn’t eat my face off when I die.” Really. I thought that.I saw so many doctors and the inside of more depressing waiting rooms than I care to remember. I had so many tests run and everything came out negative. Many doctors brushed me off. “You’re in your 20s, you are young, it’s just stress,” they’d say. I lived in fear of food and on the recommendation of one doctor, ate a very bland, low-acid diet of peanut butter crackers, bananas and chicken soup.
I was sick for years. YEARS. I lived a miserable dietary existence. I was ready to just accept my fate as a weak, sickly individual until I saw one last doctor. This particular doctor suggested cutting out certain foods to see if my pain stopped. I cut out gluten, dairy and nightshades. My pain disappeared. I had more energy than I had in my entire life. I actually enjoyed eating again.
I worked the nightshades back into my diet with no problem. Then I tried the dairy. Still very little problem as long as I didn’t overdue it. I was scared, but I also tried adding the gluten back into my diet. The stomach pain and nausea came back soon after.
I’ve now been gluten-free for a couple of years. And it’s been glorious. I don’t miss “real” bread, pasta or the pain they once caused me. I eat fresh, beautiful foods without abandon. And guess what?! I cook them all out of my Airstream!
So to make a long story short, I want to share those foods with you in a new column I’m calling “The Gluten-Free RV.” The title makes sense now, huh?!
Thanks for listening, ya’ll. I love you and I hope you’ll enjoy.
melanie
Having very little money to decorate has forced George and I to get creative when it comes to the home items we need. I’ve shared my secrets to thrifting, so today I’m going to show you a little bit of how we reclaim items.
We desperately needed a coat rack for our tiny entryway. I hate the look of coats thrown over chairs and scarves hanging on doorknobs. We found a piece of old barn wood, a horseshoe and two spigots in (what else?!) an old barn at my in-laws house. All we had to do after that was screw the horseshoe and the spigots onto the piece of wood and instant coat hook!
Kinda looks like something from Pottery Barn, no?
Have you ever used something unconventional to decorate your home? I’d love to see it, so leave the links in the comments!
love,
melanie
