Our House: Part 1

Wow, what a process it is moving into a house. It has been so great having our own place to call home. I still find myself shirking when I'm loud, worrying that I'm bothering the neighbors below me, then realizing that I don't have neighbors below me! It's awesome! Now, the houses that were in our price range were ones that needed a lot of work, so we spent a lot of time and effort in getting our house just livable before moving in. I want to thank those that helped us with this process. Those in my ward, my sister and her husband for letting us stay at their house for a week, my niece Kirsten for watching my baby a lot, and of course, my parents! They helped us with so so SO many things, from the process of finding a house, to getting into this house, and from turning this house into our home. We still have a lot of work that needs to be done, but the upstairs is at least livable, and we have been enjoying every moment of transforming the place. Here are a few pictures to show some of the work that we have done.

 Now I know it may not seem like it's been a lot of work but what you don't see in pictures is the dirt on the walls, the awful smell of dog urine that was embedded in the floors, and the dog hair that was in every cupboard, etc.

293.5 sq ft. home

Here is a tiny house that I saved on a draft to my e-mail account a while back. I can't remember where I picked it up but I really liked it. I also appreciate that it has a bird's view of the layout!

6 Fall Closet Cleanout Tips

Fall is one of those great times out of the year to clean out your closet. While some of the clothes that you wear in the Summer months still work for Winter too, the days are getting much colder. This is a transition period. So take a day to clean out your cluttered closet and re-organize it using these simple tips.

1. Pull everything out and get rid of the things that you honestly don't wear anymore. As in, the things that you really don't have an attachment to, but still have it to fill the space in your closet. (I know we all have some of those clothes). Empty space is good though. It leaves room for you to see the clothes that you actually do like wearing.

2. Try on the clothes that you haven't worn in a while to see if you still like it, or if it even fits you still.

3. Get rid of the stuff that doesn't fit you. I know, I know, it's going to fit you by this time next year right? Stacy and Clinton from TLC's What Not To Wear have always said, dress yourself in the clothes that you fit into now, not the ones you'll fit into later. Unless of course you just had a baby within the last year or something. If you have "baby fat" from 5 years ago, no, wear clothes that fit you now.

4. Neatly fold and hang the clothes that you are keeping so that you can actually see everything you have.

5. Either sell or give away the rest. There are places online to sell items worth value and also a yard sell, if you start looking around your house and realize there's maybe a lot of things you could do with out! :) But personally I prefer giving it to the thrift store. Just remember that when thrift stores have too many clothes they are shipped to places all around the world where it gets a second life and given to those who really needs them.

6. It was going to be just 5 tips but I highly recommend writing a list of your ideal wardrobe and stick to it. Only buy what's on your list. If you want some ideas you can check out my ideal wardrobe list here & here.

I hope you enjoy the pleasurable feeling from clearing out the clutter. Don't forget to subscribe by e-mail or with your blogger account!


Original Article: http://www.blogher.com/5-fall-closet-cleanout-tips
Photo: http://www.arizonafoothillsmagazine.com/valleygirlblog/news/10-tips-for-organizing-your-closet/

Jay Shafer: Tiny House Creator

I've been wanting to talk about Jay Shafer for a while now because of my admiration for his designs. Considered to be a pioneer of the tiny house movement, or what I feel, really just "going back to how our ancestors used to live- in much smaller spaces" movement, he has been living in tiny dwellings that he's designed and built for over 15 years now. Out of mostly wanting to be able to get around building codes and prove that he could do so, all of his smaller designs, less than 200 sq ft, are on wheels so that they aren't considered an illegal home, but a legal mobile trailer. All of the homes he designs are very well thought out... 

You won't find any space wasted. Starting out with his first company Tumbleweed Tiny Houses, he recently sold that and began his new business called Four Lights Tiny Houses. His latest project is now, what the city regulations define as a "trailer park," will be a community full of all tiny homes.

Here is a great youtube video about Jay Shafer done by another great artist I admire-Kirsten Dirksen from Faircompanies.com that is less than 20 minutes if you have time:

Don't forget to subscribe either by e-mail or with your blogger account if you haven't already. Have a wonderful weekend!!!

Photos from: http://tech.bemoor.com/about.php?id=218&s=Jay%20Shafer%20Philosophy &
Tumbleweedhouses.com & Fourlightshouses.com

How Others Live: Family of Four Living in 540 sq. ft.

Jessica Helgerson, an Interior Designer lives here with her husband and two children in this 540 sq ft house on 5 acres located at Sauvie Island, Oregon. Previously living in a much larger dwelling, but decided to downsize drastically.

Every space is well utilized for multipurpose and storage. One example being the living space with couches that double as beds for guests, as well as drawers underneath for storage and a huge bookcase behind it.

 Looking at these pictures makes me think that it's very possible to live in a much smaller space with a well thought out design plan to store the things that are needed and to help you get rid of the extra stuff in our lives that we don't. How much more time and energy we would have to focus on the more important things in our lives like relationships, experiencing new things, learning new skills. I'm all for living in a smaller space, though I am aware I would need some pairing down to do so first. What do you think? Could you sacrifice a larger dwelling and the extra responsibilities that come a long with it for a more simpler life? Or maybe you are in the process of simplifying already. Or perhaps you are satisfied with the "American Dream" concept that bigger is better. I'm interested to know what others opinions are on living smaller.

Photos by Lincoln Barbour.

Story from http://birchandbird.com/a-life-less-ordinary