Our Fleet of “Company Cars”
I post a fair amount of content on Instagram featuring our family’s fleet of bikes, which we affectionately refer to as our “Company Cars.”
Most of the time I’m simply offering glimpses into our daily routines and lifestyle habits— rarely do I discuss WHY we bike so much and drive so little.
First, I should state outright that pedaling here-and-there as a family like we do is a mix of planning and privilege. This lifestyle works for us because of a myriad of factors that don’t apply to everyone.
Yes, we go out of our way to accommodate the mildly inconvenient realities of biking, such as waking up earlier, carving out more time, bringing changes of clothes, awkwardly carrying bulky cargo, wandering around events or this crowded city with a trio of helmets fastened to our belt loops, etc.
But these are things we are privileged to have the opportunity to do. We are able-bodied, we do not have to commute for work, and we live in an agreeable climate year-round.
In other words, we’re on no pedestal about our bikes > cars mentality. My goal in this blog entry is merely to share why we bike, and what it means to us.
Environmental Benefits
In a recent article from the Climate Fwd: Newsletter offered by The New York Times, we learned that if Americans cut back on their driving habits just 10%, we can have a big and meaningful impact on greenhouse gas emissions. Light-duty vehicles (which are basically the models used for everyday life) account for about 1/5th of our country’s total emissions footprint, and more than 1/3 of all car trips are within 2 miles. If those who are able to do so use public transportation, bikes or simply rely on walking instead, a 10% decrease in driving would prevent about 110 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from entering our atmosphere.
Family Activity or Solo Relaxation
We’ve found biking— both as a family (with the pups included) and solo— to be such a therapeutic and enjoyable activity. Unlike an errand in the car, a bike ride (with or without an end goal) is a wonderful way to be more engaged within our community and aware of its current state. West and the pups clearly delight in the sights we encounter while out. And when Adam and/or I bike alone or as a couple, it’s a wonderfully refreshing way to get outside and clear our minds.
Health Benefits
I find it extremely hard to allot time in our schedule for working out. We don’t have a nanny or a babysitter or family nearby, nor do we have help with our small business. Because of these realities, it’s tough to find a chunk of time in which we’re available for something other than work, life’s necessities or childcare. (I’m not complaining— just sharing.) Biking has been a great way to stay active and get our heart rates up on a daily basis without having to hire assistance.
Simplicity
In L.A. (and in other cities in which I’ve lived and biked), cycling has a lot of perks. Due to heavy auto traffic, biking is often more time-savvy and efficient than driving on local roads, and there’s always a place to park easily, quickly and for free. Plus it’s a great way to get unplugged. (Yes, we should ALL be unplugged when on the road, but when I look around I see just how many drivers are glued to their smartphones in traffic, and it’s terrifying. As such, ALWAYS WEAR YOUR HELMET! I love my Bern, and West and Adam are into their magnetic-clasp Nutcase helmets.)
Outdoor Movie Night in a Small Garden
On Fridays and Sundays, we typically like to do movie nights as a family here at home.
I’m not a big fan of staying inside huddled around a screen— especially since we live in SoCal, where the weather is usually gorgeous, and something is always in bloom. So this weekend we decided to try outdoor movie night.
It only took a few minutes to set up, and worked wonderfully.
We didn’t need any special furnishings or equipment. We simply placed our vintage, folding outdoor table (which we also use for pop-up dining, crafts, and for offering refreshments outdoors when hosting,) on the back stoop, and topped it with my work iMac.
We’ve been meaning to mail this desktop computer off to a family member, as discussed in this post about our recent home-office modifications, but we haven’t gotten around to it yet. It’s been sitting on the floor of our closet in the meantime, so this was the perfect way to put it to continued use.
We lit a non-toxic mosquito repellent stick nearby, and it kept the bugs at bay. I really like this particular product, because it doesn’t have the overwhelming (often stomach-turning) smell that most other sticks and candles have, and yet it works. We only need 1 to cover our back garden and attached bedroom.
I wore a full-length medium-weight hoodie from Garnet Hill for extra protection from the mosquitos since I can’t sit still for the length of a movie and end up darting around the property. West and Adam curled up under a blanket as it got cooler. (No bug bites!)
Our usual stack of outdoor pillows kept us cozy on our custom couch, which was made from reclaimed materials by Tumbleweed & Dandelion here in Venice.
We watched episodes of “Sarah & Duck” and ate popcorn and veggies. To serve the snacks, we used our PlanetBox and shared a stainless steel insulated cup that works just as well for pre-schoolers as it does for adults.
Desktop computer or not, we’ll be doing this far more often now that we now how simple and delightful it can be.
Transforming a Tiny Play Space for $30
The other day we stopped by a craft store to pick up a specific item for our son. While running through the aisles chasing after him, I spotted a simple market/lemonade stand for $30. I jumped at the rare impulse purchase.
I appreciated the simple, unfinished, all cardboard design for what it offered, and also for the room it provided for customization and creativity.
With some crayons, toys, books and goods from around the house, as well as a mix of real and faux produce and plants we already had on-hand for West, it was easy and entertaining to completely transform our main room (and the stoops) for hours of play and learning.
We used the scraps of cardboard from the packaging to make little notes and cash for the stand. West’s existing sorting bowls and their corresponding wooden chips became perfect coins.
It was tempting to buy a wooden cash register set, but Adam and I agreed that manufactured toy money was definitely on the list of items we can do without.
The stand has been great for unstructured enjoyment, but it has also been a practical outlet for communicating some lessons and addressing habits that we think are important.
We use mesh produce bags, we express gratitude, we discuss where food comes from and how it’s grown, and we talk about flawed produce and why it’s crucial to not waste it.
We’ve also enjoyed pulling some small florals and herbs up from the garden and giving those to one another. (And then our next activity is usually to plant a couple seeds, or tend to the soil.)
For us, this was $30 so well spent. (And we haven’t even gotten to the lemonade side of the stand…)
Shifting Pace
Recently I decided to change the services offered by my company— mainly the behind-the-scenes one-on-one decor gigs, which I rarely share online. I did this because those jobs produce far too much waste for my comfort, they consume more time than we currently have available, they induce a level of stress that I feel is disproportionate to the subject matter, and yet they only account for a sliver of my company’s income. So I’m currently phasing out those responsibilities, and will have them behind me by the end of the month.
In the transition phase, I’m taking time to inspect my world at a less-frenzied pace.
I’m focusing on what I treasure most about my business, my personal life, and my home environment.
I’ve been able to work from home for the majority this week, as I’m spending less and less time rushing about LA.
In the moments in between business and playing with West, I catch glimpses of tiny visuals that ignite such pops of happiness within me. Perhaps they’ll resonate with readers, perhaps not. But I’m sharing them anyway (below) as a simple display of gratitude for this tiny life.
Above: West’s stickers and fingerprints throughout the Cottage.
Above: A miniature acorn, moss and macrame air plant holder from Big Red Sun, crafted by a young maker.
Above: A repurposed apple juice jug filled with laundry detergent, almost ready for a refill at ReContained.
Above: A handmade combo cutlery + activity to-go roll for West.
Above: A simple folding laundry rack in use, reminding us it’s still summer while drying up wet spots earned from feeding the plants with leftover water from West’s gardening table.
Above: Items used daily mixed with retired work equipment, all suspended from our bedroom wall.
Above: Pillows designed by a friend, making the Cottage main room look oh so stylish.
Above: My hat, adored on both sides with pins that display the message that we value people and the planet over profit.
Above: My incredible husband Adam working increasingly with my small business— a sight that brings me joy, comfort, and a touch of pride.
Above: West’s chalkboard, still bearing scribbles from the last game we created together.
Above: Leftover flowers from a recent shoot sitting next to an X’s and O’s board game crafted lovingly by Timberchild.
Above: My comfy white Rothy’s—made from single-use plastics— which I can get as dirty as I want in the canoe, on the bike or in the garden, since they’re machine-washable.
Video: Tiny Takeaways (Ep.8)
This is the 8th installment of our mini video series, Tiny Takeaways. In this episode, we’re demonstrating some of the many ways in which a single, simple, compact room can be transformed throughout the day. Why this topic? Because in an era of climate crisis, we believe it’s important to share true to life examples of how living in (and with) a smaller footprint as a family is not only doable, but delightful.
For 200+ more tips for making the most of your compact home or apartment, explore our lil’ book: Small Space Style.
Laundry as a Family Activity
There’s no getting around the chore of laundry— even in a tiny house. This is especially true for residences that with young children, pets who shed, a full-time office, and a slew of reusable/washable goods in lieu of disposable single-use supplies. (🙋🏻)
In order to make laundry feel like more of a game and less like an obligation, we’ve made washing and drying into a family activity at the cottage.
We take our vintage children’s chair out beside the bistro table set, pair it with an old restaurant bus tub (left over from our wedding), and add some water and a soap bar to then hand-wash a few garments with West.
We end up tossing everything in the washing machine, of course. But we’re constantly reevaluating and exploring ways in which to reduce our environmental footprint during the laundry process.
We only do full loads (rather than small or partial washes), and run most of them on cold, since 90% of energy used during a typical wash cycle is used for heating the water. *
We share an old, stacked washer + dryer with the neighboring tiny house. Despite the notable uptick in the loads of wash that result from practices like using reusable wipes, cloth diapers and washable toiletry supplies, our water consumption hasn’t increased drastically enough for us to see a marked difference in our utlity bills. (The only time we do see a difference is when we’re trying to get establish “large” sections of new plants. Even many of the drought-tolerant ones need more water than usual when settling in and taking root.)
Whenever possible, we try to dry everything on an all-natural folding rack, which can fit indoors easily, as well as out.
We also have a few makeshift clotheslines (made of twine and held up by tacks) strung about the garden where we can suspend additional items. West enjoys putting the linens out on the rack and lines, as well as picking them back up once they’re dry.
When we need to use the dryer, we’ve begun to add all-natural, hypoallergenic dryer balls, which can last for 1000 loads, and cut back on drying time by 25%, thus saving time and energy while softening clothes and reducing wrinkles. (We never use dryer sheets, as they’re usually filled with toxic ingredients that are routinely tested on animals.)
This whole process has become one of our go-to summer activities. And, oddly enough, we’re into it.
Source: Give a Sh*t by Ashlee Piper
Less Shopping, More Time
There’s something unrelentingly frenetic about the pace of family life in a major city. Between traffic, crowds, and prices, simply putting a foot out the door can feel like stepping into a whirlwind.
However, since curtailing our dependency on disposable / single-use items, Adam and I have realized that we rarely have to go shopping, which means we have reduced those frenzied family missions to an absolute minimum.
Once we no longer needed to replenish our stock of cleaning goods, household supplies and toiletries— and since we reprogrammed ourselves to stop bringing new items into our home— there became significantly fewer errands to run. (This is, of course, partially achievable through online shopping, but the carbon footprint of packing + shipping are far too taxing on the environment to warrant frequent deliveries.)
Other than our regular trips to the market or to pick up canister refills for our Sodastream, we usually only leave when we are meeting people, working, or creating lil’ field trips for our son and dogs. In other words, less shopping us has given us the magical gift of more time.
Lil’ apple basket by Olli Ella
That’s not to say that I ever feel caught up on business, or that we have found time for things like traditional workouts or lengthy catch-up sessions with our friends. For us, the reality of running our own business and raising a family with no hired help for either is that we are always behind on something. (I imagine that most people feel this way.) But, when it comes to time with our son, we feel like we’re squeezing in every moment possible— and we don’t have to drive him all over the city for this-and-that while we’re at it.
This leaves time for impromptu explorations on foot or by bike within our local community, and opportunities for countless imaginary games in our tiny home and garden.
Here’s to reduced waste, less stuff, and more adventure.
Video: Tiny Takeaways (Ep.5)
This is the fifth installment of our mini video series, Tiny Takeaways. In this episode, we’re highlighting some easy ways to maximize outdoor spaces! For 200+ more tips for making the most of your compact home or apartment, explore our lil’ book: Small Space Style.
Sustainable Small Space Styling Feature
It’s my goal to assist others in embracing and enjoying life in— and with— a smaller footprint. Our friends at Olli Ella invited me to share a few tips pertaining to this on their lovely blog, since we have and use so many of their products here in our tiny home. A preview of the feature is below— visit their post and scroll to the bottom to shop the collection.
Tip 1: Use Your Local Library
Save money, preserve space, and reduce your environmental footprint by borrowing books from your local library— particularly if you have children. While we do have a permanent assortment of books in our home, the most used and efficient collections are those we borrow from the city and county libraries. We keep our son’s borrowed books in the Strolley as it’s easy and safe for him to roll around the house, and it keeps everything organized and easily accessible.
Tip 2: BYO... Everything
We all know that single-use plastics are responsible for a staggering amount of damage to the planet and its inhabitants. Bring your own reusable produce bags, bulk good containers, reusable to-go boxes, utensils, linens, coffee and water vessels, and refillable jars for cleaning and body products whenever possible. It doesn’t have to be as cumbersome as it sounds once you figure out a system that works for you. And since these items are constantly in varying stages of use, they’re easier to stash around your tiny home than you might think. We tote ours daily, and use our Luggys to transport them to and from our local farmers markets and grocery stores.
Tip 3: Organize In Style
You can stylishly organize toys, games, accessories, equipment and more within your small space by skipping the bulky plastic storage bins, and opting instead to use beautiful, versatile baskets made of natural materials. Instead of storing everything together, arrange the containers throughout your home. Use simple hardware, such as coat racks, s-hooks and wall hooks to mount and hang select baskets. This will free up some precious floor space, while enriching the look, feel and function of your home.
Tip 4: Get Some Fresh Air
Whenever possible, skip the car. Clearly this planet needs us all to cut back drastically on emissions from transportation. Plus riding a bike is better for your body, and getting outside is good for the soul. If your town offers shared/rental bikes, use them. If not, there are numerous handmade small space storage solutions for bikes available on sites such as Etsy. Our family shares one car, but we ride our funny little fleet of bikes far more often than we drive. I have a multi-tasking Mamachari for holding my phone and keys while I’m on my bike, and my son has a sweet little Mini Chari on his tricycle.
Tip 5: Decorate With Greenery
Adding a diverse array of air-cleansing plants to your home is not only a wonderful way to make your space visually striking and unique, but it’s also a creative way to avoid filling your home with mass-produced decorative objects. The less manufacturing that is required to create your residence and the items within it, the less harm you’re doing to the Earth. Choose plants that suit your vibe and location, and be mindful of selecting varieties that are safe for your family and pets. (Our son loves to water our houseplants at the kitchen sink while standing on his Storie Stool!)
Video: Tiny Takeaways (Ep.4)
This is the fourth installment of our mini video series, Tiny Takeaways. In this episode, we’re highlighting 5 easy ways to create a soothing small space by reducing visual clutter. We hope you enjoy! (For 200+ more tips for making the most of your compact home or apartment, explore our lil’ book: Small Space Style.)
(Note: This episode is formatted vertically for optimal mobile viewing. To watch it on a desktop/laptop, please click the full screen icon on the control bar at the bottom of the video player. )
Basket Roundup
In our new video series I’ve been showing ways in which we use our diverse basket collection to reduce visual clutter and increase functionality in our small home (and office). Similarly, Instagram Stories videos from our bikes, canoe, and our single car have offered a look at how we also use baskets while on-the-go. In response, I’ve received several requests to share some of my favorite designs and resources.
I’ve included a shopping round-up of baskets we use often (or used repeatedly in the past). When you look at the photos in this post, these scattered containers might not look like much. But in reality, they corral everything from art sets to reusable shopping accessories to dolls to instruments, and so much more. It’s all hiding right here in plain sight.
For me, the key is to find baskets that can be used in multiple ways. For example, the petite bag on the front of my bike can also be converted to a shoulder bag or backpack. And the rolling cart I take to the library and market holds larger garden toys while it’s parked at home. Versatile pieces such as these ultimately save space, money and waste.
When a container is no longer needed for one purpose, we adapt its use to suit our changing needs, rather than buying something new. The best example of this would be our beaded nesting set from Kembali Collective, which we repurpose at least once per month.
A SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING BIKE BASKETS - Across our 4 bikes, we use the following styles of baskets. (It might seem like a lot, but biking is our family’s primary mode of transport— even when we travel locally with the dogs.)
Child’s bike front basket, which converts to a shoulder bag or backpack
Matching adult front basket, which converts to a shoulder bag or backpack
Wide-rim rear basket for larger goods and jackets
A rear basket with a bottle holder
When riding, I usually wear a straw backpack for taller items, like wine bottles or branches. If I need something that closes at the top so goods don’t tip out if I bend over (which happens a lot when I’m traveling with West), then I wear this canvas minimalist backpack.
Photo Credits / Notes:
Whitney and West reading by Tinylicious.
Images of Whitney walking bike and West + StanLee on bridge by MindBodyGreen for Avocado Green Mattress.
As always, any images of West and/or the pups were taken as they interacted (under adult supervision) in their own natural ways.
Less Space, More Creativity
Often when I show my son playing games in our garden, readers send me sweet messages in which they lament the fact they they have no outdoor space where their kids can engage in similar activities. I understand completely— this is the first home I’ve ever had as an adult that includes a yard, an I’m grateful for our tiny patch of Earth every day. But I wanted to suggest another perspective and a few work-arounds for those feeling confined indoors with their baby, toddler or pre-schooler at any point during the year.
When it comes to certain activities (regardless of whether or not they’re considered indoor our outdoor), perhaps you don’t need more square-footage… just dive a bit deeper into your creative side.
When I was a pre-schooler, I had access to an oversized flannel board wall for paying with felt cut-outs, as well as numerous large trunks containing dress-up costumes and creative play accessories. Here, we have no room for either. Yet West can still partake in those games any time he likes.
We have 3’ panel of flannel that we simply tuck into the end of our bed or the edge of our couch, and suddenly those surfaces become adequate stretches of space for felt storyboards. (We keep the felt cut-outs in my favorite market basket so they’re easy to tote around.)
Similarly, there’s no ideal wall that we could paint and turn into a practical chalkboard. We had one of those lightweight Ikea chalkboard easels, but we kept running into it since it didn’t collapse. So we gave it to other parents in the neighborhood, and instead we got a flat chalkboard that we can tuck in the closet or flat up against a wall when not in use. We suspend it from a doorknob with a piece of twine or place it on the floor when West wants to draw on a larger surface.
As for dress-up trunks, we skip the bulky container and just spread the contents throughout the house in spaces that make the most sense for each particular piece. West always knows where to find his butterfly wings, binoculars, rain boots, and duck hat. They’re just not all clumped together in one oversized container.
When it comes to traditional outdoor activities, such as sand boxes and water play, it is clearly more environmentally-minded, space-savvy and budget-friendly to explore community resources, rather than default to buying something of your own. However, for the times when you want your child to be able to explore a messy game at home and don’t have a yard, there are compact and low-waste options available.
A small folding table topped with a collapsible tub, inflatable tray or a compact suite of eco-friendly, water-safe toys can work well for water, sand or other sensory elements. (West enjoys adding petals, rocks and leaves to his PlanToys water set, which is made with 100% sustainable rubber + wood and coated with a non-toxic finish. All colors are made from vegetable dye.)
If you don’t have a bathroom or tub large enough to accommodate such a set-up (we don’t either!), meet your new best friend: The Gathre Mat.
I’ve blogged about Gathre many times before, as we’ve used their mats for a bit of everything. We have one dedicated mid-sized mat that we used for diaper time back when West was in his Grovia cloth diapers, but we also have another, larger mat (which we cut into 2 pieces to suit our needs. We use this 2nd mat for covering the couch when it rains to protect it from puppy paws, and for covering the floor when our son uses watercolor paints, or plays with splash toys indoors.
Normally we do these things outside. But when it rains, during fires when the air quality becomes unhealthy, and other unique situations, we just drop down the mats and let West make a proper mess in the Cottage. The mats are stylish, easy to clean, and fold up tight. They can also be used time and time again as beach mats, picnics blankets, crafting surfaces, rug protectors under highchairs, and so forth.
While there are admittedly no groundbreaking small space ideas in this post, the point is to remind us all that we don’t necessarily need a larger home. We can work creatively with what we’ve got, while keeping our footprint small… and stylish.
(Note: As always, please keep safety in mind when it comes to your home and kid(s). The set-ups and activities that succeed in one environment for a particular child might not be suitable for a different type of home or another family.)
StanLee's 13th Birthday
StanLee, our senior adopted beagle-mix, turned 13 this week! We celebrated with long walks, an extra serving of food at breakfast, and a relaxed canoe ride along the canals.
StanLee has been by my side for more than a decade. We’ve chased rabbits on train tracks, tumbled through the snow, romped around beaches, and explored forests and deserts and mountains and prairies. We’ve driven across the country together. We canvassed door to door through the Carolinas. We’ve fallen into ponds, floated in pools, and gotten trapped in thickets. He kept me going during an epic breakup.
He jogged therapeutic miles with me every day and night, and now rides along in the canoe or in the cargo bike with West & Sophee. He fell in love with Adam in an instant, and I’m sure he understood when I did that Adam would become part of our family.
StanLee watches over our tiny cottage, and has even thwarted robbery attempts. He stood next to us on our stoop when Adam and I said our vows. He sat with my Dad and Grandpa Lou in Florida when they were recovering from treatments and surgeries, even though the medical equipment, walkers, and wheelchairs scared him. He protects West if my back is turned.
When I was pregnant, so many people warned me that once my son was born I wouldn’t feel the same level of love for the pups as I did before. But I’ve found that I’ve grown even closer to them both. Yes, sometimes our walks are delayed or cut short, and one-on-one time with either is something that has to be carved into the schedule with effort. But it’s been fascinating to watch them adapt to life with West and interact with him in their own ways. Sophee is still a total menace, but she has grown up, while StanLee has gone grey without losing his playfulness. I love them more than ever.
It might sound childish, but Stanlee is my best friend on the planet. #AdoptDontShop, folks. It can change your life in the most wonderful way.
Upholding Human Rights
There’s no excuse for human rights abuses. We are calling. We are donating. And, when the time comes, we are VOTING.
Click here to read The New York Times’ post entitled, There’s No Excuse for Mistreating Children at the Border. Here’s What To Do About It.” and explore their recommended action steps.
Simplified Skincare
I don’t enjoy blogging about beauty-related topics. Women are often told in one way or another that we need to invest extraordinary time and money in beauty and youth at nearly every age, and I don’t want contribute to that narrative.
However, I can’t deny that my simplified skincare approach over the past 1-2 years has saved me time, money, and space. It has also reduced so much bottle, palette and canister waste that I feel as though it’s worth sharing here— especially since I’ve received several requests recently to post about my favorite resources for skincare and makeup.
First, some context: I’m 38 years old, covered in freckles, and have visible sun damage from decades spent outdoors in Florida and Southern California. (That’s why I’m constantly wearing my West Perro hat.)
I have never used injectables such as botox or fillers, and I have never had any cosmetic surgery.
I’ve been regrowing my eyebrows for 2 years by never, ever tweezing them, and I recently got temporary Microfeathering by Kristie Streicher to lightly fill in some patches that are slower to grow back.
Rather than ramping up my skincare and makeup habits as I grow older, I’ve pared them down in an effort to improve my overall health, better suit our limited physical space, and reduce my environmental footprint.
Instead of my skin rebelling at my scaled-back approach, it has responded favorably. Of course, my smile lines and crows feet all get deeper as the years pass. But my tone has evened-out, and my complexion has transformed.
For my face, my skincare routine is as follows:
I wash twice per day, alternating between this cleanser (which also doubles as a makeup remover balm) and this facial bar soap.
2x per week, I use this dual-action microdermabrasion exfoliator that delivers the benefits of both physical and chemical exfoliation.
I apply Active Treatment Essence twice per day (Note: This has been the most effective product I’ve ever used on my face)
I apply Active Botanical Serum at night
In the morning, I apply a tinted SPF20 moisturizer.
That’s it. No peels, no wipes, no moisturizers, no masks, no primers.
Although the Essence and Serum have higher price tags, they actually end up saving me money, since the contents of those 2 small glass bottles are long-lasting, and are all I really need. (If I want a little extra spot treatment, the Essence combined with an application of roll-on serum from this tiny bottle from Package Free Shop have helped me out 100% of the time. )
On my body I use a Leaping Bunny certified body stone that softens on contact with the skin. It’s available in a sustainably farmed, re-usable bamboo canister, or simply as a refill.
My makeup is limited as well— it’s mainly multi-use Olio E Osso balms and a few select Beauty Counter products. My collection consists of: Eyeshadow / Mascara / Sheer Lipstick / Eye Pencil / Highlighter / Brow Gel / Tinted Face Oil / Lip + Cheek Balm
I chose my makeup carefully after searching extensively for healthier products that actually work. While serious health issues are on the rise due in large part to our ongoing exposure to toxic chemicals, Beautycounter (a certified B-Corp) prohibits 1,500 questionable or harmful chemicals from being used in their products. Plus I appreciate their ongoing approach to lighten their environmental impact. Last year alone they also offset 3,628 metric tons of CO2 to match 100% of their yearly HQ consumption, planted the equivalent of 4,270 acres of trees to offset carbon usage, and invested in 1,284 Water Restorative Certificates to offset 120% of their water usage. They’re also constantly adapting their packaging to be increasingly eco-friendly. A good example of this is their eyeshadow palette, which has a mirror that can be removed for use elsewhere, allowing the entire palette to then be recycled:
I also trust all things Goop, as their team approaches skin care from both inside and out, using high-performance, active ingredients and totally clean, nontoxic formulas for powerful results and healthy, glowing skin.
I use washable washable makeup remover pads to wipe off my makeup in the evenings, and washable cotton rounds for general cleansing. For folks who prefer to use wipes, here is a compostable option. (Read more about that via our “Space-savvy + Low Waste Bathroom Swaps” post here.)
Everything fits easily into a canvas pouch I found on Etsy, for use at the Cottage or on-the-go.
Here’s to simplifying our routines, and freeing up both time and space for the things that truly matter in this world.
Long-Lasting, Eco-Friendly Kids Clothing
Our son (who turns 3 this fall,) has very few articles of clothing. Nearly everything he needs fits into three jute baskets in our closet, while his undergarments and overnight cloth diapers fit in one additional small drawer.
It’s been the same ever since he was an infant. We never buy for his next stage of growth, and focus solely on comfort in the present. We donate anything that he’s clearly outgrown so as to avoid a build-up of articles, and we keep the number of garments that all of us own to a minimum.
The key is finding versatile pieces that can be layered regardless of season, as well as designs that continue to grow over time. Pants with legs that can be rolled up (and then back down again all too soon), and tops with sleeves that can do the same have been helped us keep certain garments in use for well over a year.
Whether we’re here on the beach or visiting our family up north during winter, our son remains comfortable. (We always have 1 major coat, 1 bathing suit, and 1 pair of gloves that fit him at his current size. All of these items fit year-round into one of his designated baskets— nothing is stored separately during off-seasons.)
We prefer to use hand-me-down clothing from West’s cousins, or pieces crafted in sustainable materials that are responsibly manufactured.
Here’s a list of our main resources.
Primary dot com: West basically lived in their zip-up rompers, day and night, until he was 18 months old.
Caribou Kids Clothing: These handmade pants grow 5-6 inches with your child, and the bamboo tops are incredible at keeping skin cool or warm, depending. West has 4 of the tops and they’re our favorites.
Arq Undies: Now that West is out of diapers (he pretty much potty-trained himself somewhere around 30 months old), he wears durable (and adorable) Arq underpants.
O.N.E. Grovia Cloth Diapers: Just to be safe overnight!
Go Gently Nation: We have a Go Gently Nation dress that our son wears at night, or any time he doesn’t feel like wearing pants. We also have a few of their lightweight long-sleeve shirts for nicer occasions. Again, these have fit our son for several months, and I believe he’ll get about another year out of them. I appreciate that they’re produced ethically and locally, cutting back on transport/emissions.
Red Creek Kids: The pants and rompers by Red Creek Kids are stylish, easy to wash, responsibly produced in small batches, and long-lasting.
Rudy Jude: Simple, natural, responsible, sustainable clothing for kids , babies and adults.
Neve & Hawk: We got West’s favorite sweatshirt here. I appreciate their bright, creative designs.
Exceptions: We try to never buy clothing from “fast fashion” sources, as they’re contributing hugely to the climate crisis. However, I’ll admit that in a pinch I found a couple pairs of West’s pants that we like for everyday use on Amazon. While they weren’t my wisest purchases, they are getting a ton of use. They will either be passed down to another child, or used as cleaning rags in the future if they fall apart.
Etsy: If we want to support a cause, get a bit more playful, or find a handmade accessory for our son, we source via Etsy.
Video: Tiny Takeaways (Ep.1)
I don’t want everything I publish to be shoppable. (That’s why I started my “Items You Can Probably Go Without” blog entries.) I don’t wan’t to earn income by constantly encouraging people to buy more, when I know that most of us can (and should, for environmental reasons,) live with less. What I do want is for folks to be comfortable, confident and content in their small homes or apartments. And I want to be a resource for reliable takeaways that can help you spend less time searching for your stuff, and more time with the ones you love.
Adam and I created a mini video series that we hope offers creative, no/low cost organizational and storage solutions to folks living in smaller spaces. This is the first episode, and I so deeply hope that it’s useful to some of you. As always, thank you for your encouragement and continued support of our lil’ home, family and business!
Video: 8 Years in The Cottage
This spring marked our 8th anniversary of living in our lil’ home! We always want to remember this time, so we made a video that we can revisit later in life.
Thank you to Lucia Doynel of Tinylicious for capturing this footage so naturally while we went about our day at home. And thank you to Eric Mellgren of Vigilant Healing Solutions for permitting us to use his original song, Up To Something, in this video.
(See our “Then & Now” post from our 7th year anniversary here.)
Camping in the Cottage
Our little Cottage is nearly 100 years old-- naturally it’s going to suffer the aches and pains of age. With hot, dry summers, obnoxious termites (they seems to be everywhere in Venice), and wet winters, the wood here has been through quite a bit. So it was no shock to us when we recently discovered some structural damage in the wall of our bedroom.
After we cleared the hurdles of assessing for mold (luckily there was hardly any,) and talking with West’s physicians about potential negative health impacts from exposure by proximity (thankfully they determined that there was nothing to worry about), we settled in for weeks of camping in the main room of our tiny house while the repairs took place in the bedroom.
While I don’t want to live in an even smaller space, it was actually fascinating to experiment with 2/3 of the square footage to which we’re accustomed. We definitely still needed our closet, but we found ourselves doing just fine without the bookshelf and the dedicated bedroom.
Don’t get me wrong— I love our bookshelf and built-in bed, and I much prefer to have and enjoy them. But Adam and I found ourselves chatting about Murphy beds and trundles, and envisioning a way we could make-do in the living room / office for longer if we had to.
The biggest downside to the displacement within our home was that our mattress temporarily consumed nearly all the floorspace in the main room. There was only a narrow path remaining between the desk and mattress, and the front doors pressed into the bed each time we entered / exited. (When possible, we dragged the mattress into the bedroom and propped it up in there so it would be out of the way during the day.)
But the notable upside was our increased interaction with one another. It was a tough month for each of us for different reasons, but being inches away from each other sparked even deeper communication and observation, which was helpful at this moment in all of our lives.
Another upside was that our limited space encouraged us to do even more of what we love during daylight. We canoed. We used the bikes constantly. We took more trips to the beach and the library.
We stopped by small businesses we love here in Venice, and swapped stories with friends and colleagues.
Adam and West visited museums, playgrounds, climbing gyms, and more.
And we resumed the 2nd part of our outdoor makeover, as we were spending so much time out in the garden.
We are wrapping up the repairs this week.
Looking back, while the experience certainly wasn’t convenient, is wasn’t without some unexpected benefits. As such, I’m weirdly grateful for it. (And it’s a given that West’s clean bill of health after medical review was the most important part of the whole situation.)
As I shared on Instagram: Our house isn’t perfect. We aren’t anywhere near perfect. Our attempts to shift habits to improve our health and lighten our impact on the planet aren’t perfect. I never want to make it sounds as though everything is golden all the time... but it’s all about perspective. Is dragging the mattress through our tiny house (and through dog hair tumbleweeds) the stuff of Instagram dreams? Nah. But is our home standing and our family safe? Yes. Mattress on the floor or not, we are the absolute luckiest. It’s not about perfection. And it’s not about candy-coating the negative bits either. It’s about recognizing what actually matters, being grateful, and giving back.
Functional Decor - Perpetual Calendar
I often talk about the concept of “functional decor.” With the planet suffering from the effects of our overconsumption and staggering waste, it’s more important than ever that we cut back in general. I aim to avoid purchasing new, mass produced, unsentimental, decorative tchotchkes for the sake of decor. Instead, I try to enrich our home with sustainable, ethically-produced, practical goods that can serve a function while delighting our senses.
When it comes to toys, I usually prefer hand-me-downs— particularly with items such as LEGOs, things-that-go, and magnetic tiles. They cost very little (if anything), and since they’ve already been produced, transported and purchased, there’s no point in dooming them to a landfill or storage after they’ve been used by a single household. We might as well pass these items down the line as long as possible, especially since most are made of plastic that won’t biodegrade.
West’s toy collection is also largely made up of handmade wooden designs that we enjoy using (and seeing… and stepping over) throughout our home and garden.
Thanks to library books and interactions with friends, there’s no lack of “new” games and activities for our son to experience. But some months have passed since we got him anything more permanent, so I decided to invest in a beautiful, playful, wooden perpetual calendar I found on Etsy.
A perpetual calendar is a handy, lower-waste item for spaces of any size, and I found this one to be the perfect tool-meets-toy for our tiny home/office.
At 2 ½ years old, West is creating his own daily rhythm, and understands that particular days of the week mean that set activities will be taking place. I figured that a functional, updatable, interactive calendar would be useful to him for years to come.
So far, he loves it, even though he doesn’t fully understand it... and even though he insists the weather tiles be stored in his wheelbarrow.
