Simplified Skincare (Updated)
Over the past 1-2 years, my simplified skincare routine has saved me time, money, and space. It has also reduced so much bottle waste that I feel as though it’s worth sharing.
For 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.
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.
Since I last shared this post 7 months ago, I’ve swapped or added some products to my routine (indicated below as new to me or replacement product), and the changes have further improved the quality of my skin. The line-up remains uncomplicated.
Supplies / Accessories: I use washable cotton rounds for general cleansing, and washable makeup remover pads at night if I’ve worn makeup. (Learn more about our “Space-savvy + Low Waste Bathroom Swaps” such as these here, and/or view our video on the topic here.)
As a makeup swab, I use an easy-to-clean, soft tip cosmetic LastSwab in lieu of disposable q-tips. (Get 10% off with the code: tinycanalcottage.)
For my face, my non-toxic skincare routine is as follows:
Replacement Product: I wash twice per day. At the sink I use this facial bar soap from Package Free Shop after removing my eye makeup with coconut oil.
In the shower I use a small amount of this cleanser (which also doubles as a makeup remover) from Goop.New-to-me: 2x per week, I use this dual-action microdermabrasion exfoliator from Goop that delivers the benefits of both physical and chemical exfoliation. This has made a huge difference for my pores and overall smoothness.
I apply Vintner’s Daughter Active Treatment Essence twice per day (Note: This has been the most effective product I’ve ever used on my skin. It’s pricey, but one small glass bottle lasts a long time, and the Essence has eliminated my need to visit the dermatologist, along with the need to acquire any additional serums, oils, or moisturizing products.)
I apply Vintner’s Daughter Active Botanical Serum at night
In the morning, I’ll apply a tinted SPF20 moisturizer from Beauty Counter if I decide to wear makeup and if I’m not wearing my West Per hat.
Replacement Product: If I need a little extra spot treatment, an application of roll-on serum from this tiny bottle from Package Free Shop is my hero.
New-to-me: Once a month I’ve started biking to the Osea bungalow in Venice (photos below) for their Gua Sha Facial.
The treatment is not only detoxifying but supremely relaxing.
This is a holistic alternative to injectables and cosmetic procedures. It contours the face while increasing collagen, stimulating tissue, reducing tension, and amplifying glow.
(Below is one of Osea’s new Gua Sha tools and instructions for use.)
Most importantly, the facial is done with Osea’s products, which are non-toxic for our bodies and the environment.
When getting the facial, I specifically request the use of their Ocean Cleansing Mudd, which has been effective at decongesting oily areas (on either side of my chin).
Daily 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. (Another option for those who prefer an oil is Osea’s Undaria Algae Body Oil, which comes in a glass bottle that’s easy to repurpose.)
Here’s to simplifying our routines, and freeing up both time and space for the things that truly matter.
The Satisfaction of Undecorating a Small Space
This post was kindly sponsored by Seventh Generation. All images, words (with the exception of exact product descriptions) and opinions are my own. As always, any images of the pups were captured as they interacted in their own natural way.
It seems like the annual removal of holiday decor seems to bring folks just as much satisfaction as the initial decorating itself. What begins as an enthusiastic burst into the most festive season of the year ends up as frustration a month later, as trees shed and extra layers of temporary decor overwhelm spaces.
I recognized this feeling in myself a few years back, which is one of the (many) reasons why we stopped bringing any new holiday decor into the cottage, and why we pared back on decking the halls— even as our son has entered his first year of recognizing (and clearly enjoying) the uniqueness of the season.
Still, we do put up a few natural, unflocked branches strung into garlands in late November, which we later disconnect and compost via LA County’s Green Carts. Since we use live greenery, we spray it with a water mister throughout December. By the time January rolls around and we remove the garlands, we have a mess behind. Thankfully, it doesn’t take long to clean a tiny house.
THIS is my favorite moment for Adam and I to clean the cottage. From a reevaluation of all our belongings, to a deep scrub of our weathered wood floors, to tidying shelves and drawers, we take the opportunity presented by undecorating after the holidays to making our home more organized and functional.
This year we started with the built-in bed.
From shoots, travel, holiday decor, the general quickened pace of the season, and the shorter fall + winter days that keep us indoors a bit longer than usual, our bed and its built-in bookshelf were ransacked over the past month.
It was particularly disorganized this year, as I recently went through our personal collection of books and donated about 40% of them to our local library. This opened up far more space than we’ve ever had on the shelves. Instead of filling the surfaces with styled decorative items (staged “shelfies” are actually an odd pet peeve of mine), we waited to see what purpose the new, open spaces would best serve.
While pausing to determine what to do with the cubbies, everyday life crept into them. Picture books for West (which we usually keep on custom shelves in the closet), tights and scarves, and new books gifted to Adam and myself jumped on to the shelves.
This jumble of items shared the tight space with a live garland and our colorful holiday pillowcases, making everything more cluttered than I’d like— especially since this area of the house is supposed to sooth the eyes and mind while supporting relaxation.
Sophee watching as we refresh the built-in.
To refresh the space, we removed the garland, followed by all the books and bins so we could do a deep clean and start from scratch.
Once the surfaces were empty, we vacuumed up the leftover greenery debris with a handheld attachment on our vacuum. (Read about how we store our vacuum here.)
We then used our washable/reusable cleaning cloths to wipe the wood clean of tiny water spots, dust, and dirt with Seventh Generation Wood Cleaner, which is Leaping Bunny certified, and EPA Safer Choice certified.
This means that all ingredients— no exceptions— are reviewed and and pass for the safest possible ingredients for human health and satisfying environmental criteria. Seventh Generation Wood Cleaner comes in a bottle that’s made with 100% post-consumer recycled materials, and is a USDA Certified Biobased Product (95%). It cleans treated wood with organic coconut oil that hydrates the surface with no yellowing build-up. Seventh Generation is a Certified B Corporation, which means it’s certified as being better for workers, better for communities and better for the environment.
After thoroughly cleaning the wood, we sorted the books, putting West’s back on the kid-friendly height shelves in our shared closet, and setting aside a few titles to donate to the library. We then put the rest back on the shelf, and replaced the plants that drape above our bed 11 months out of the year. (I love waking up to the green leaves overhead in the mornings…)
From there, we used some spare drawers (left over from a damaged rolling dresser sent to our house 3 years ago) as shelf organizers. We sorted our socks, scarves and hats before placing them in the bins. (Anything damaged was set aside for future repurposing projects.
We also covered a few colorful book spines with bookbinding tape, simply to subdue the tones in the bedroom:
The end result is a much tidier built-in.
My hope is that having our streamlined bedroom back will help keep us in a healthier and calmer mindset as we step into 2020.
Thank you to Seventh Generation for making quality products that we use here in our tiny home, and for sponsoring this post. Partnerships like this help us keep our small creative business in operation, and keep our twinkle lights glowing year-round.
Repairing and Repurposing Clothing and Accessories
Post Summary: How repairing shoes and attending Moving Thread sewing classes forever changed my feelings on buying new in an era of climate crisis.
During last year’s winter, we discovered some water damage in the wall of our built-in bed. It wasn’t until months later— when fall rolled around— that we reached for our cold/wet weather boots and realized that half of our shoes had also been harmed by exposure to the moisture.
In evaluating the damage, we had a choice to make: either get rid of all 8 pairs and purchase just 2 or 3 new pairs in their place, or invest in repairing the sets.
As we’d recently learned that about 80+% of donations end up in landfills, we decided to spend on professional restoration. After all, one of my goals for 2020 is to repair and repurpose as many belongings as possible instead of acquire anything new, which is why I began taking sewing lessons— but more on that later in this post.
The repairs weren’t cheap, but they cost far less than replacing each pair, and probably the same price as buying 2-3 new styles. Plus we knew where our money was going; to skilled and friendly crafters who’ve been restoring goods here in West LA for nearly 4 decades.
In chatting with the team at Buster’s on Main Street in Santa Monica, I learned that not only do they repair boots, but they also work on all sorts of leather goods, handbags, luggage, zippers, dyeing and more.
I was eager to share that information, as I’ve seen mountains of bags, coats and suitcases pressed up against the glass in the nearest Goodwill, destined for who-knows-where, and I imagine that shoe repair shops in other communities are likely multi-service like Buster’s is.
A month or so later when I pedaled the cargo bike over to collect our like-new boots, it was so satisfying to see them all ready to live our a second life, WITHOUT requiring manufacturing, shipping, and packaging like new shoes would have.
Inspired by this, I signed up for introductory sewing classes at Moving Thread. The classes have a maximum of 4 participants each, and are conducted within a beautiful home-studio space in Venice. Lead by Lissa, an expert who has been sewing and designing garments for over 25 years, Moving Thread offers intro and beginner workshops during which students can learn to make their own bags, and ultimately repair or alter an existing article of clothing.
One of the things that struck me about Lissa’s mission was this statement from her website:
“Today, we could all have less. The fashion industry is one of the most polluting industries in the world and a massive contributing factor to global warming. A lot of change needs to be made to undo what we’ve already done but there are some small steps we, as individuals, can take. By repairing or making our own clothes and refusing to buy from companies that don’t do their part to improve our environmental standards is just one bit closer towards a cleaner Earth.”
I signed up immediately.
Moving Thread was one of the highlights of my holiday break. I’m eager to attend a few more classes, and then thrift a sewing machine of my own so we can begin to alter and repair our own clothes and repurpose linens around the cottage.
(On a fun side note, Lissa has a lovely outdoor shower, as well as a cargo bike similar to ours. I feel as though we were destined to meet and become close. She even attended my low waste holiday decor workshop at Big Red Sun, which was such a sweet surprise.)
So, while we’re still not one of those single-mason-jar-of-household-waste-per-year families, I’m determined to get there before it’s too late.
Tiny Adventures + Video: Our Winter Vacation in N. Florida
We took a lil’ break from our tiny cottage this holiday to visit our family in my childhood home of Gainesville, Florida.
It’d been 2+ years since I’d be home, as we’ve been trying to cut back on air travel due to its high carbon footprint.
Rather than doing my usual daily posts while on the trip, I wanted to simply enjoy being with everyone, and to then create a miniature video journal and blog post from our experiences afterwards.
(Click here to view the 1-minute video.)
While there are admittedly no tangible “takeaways” in this post, I do hope that the visuals (which feature abundant live oaks, Spanish moss, animals, rainy skies and brilliant sunshine,) serve as a reminder of why the health of this beautiful planet is worth fighting for— in ways both grand and small— every day.
Recent Features Roundup
Every now and then we like to select a few features from the Cottage that were published by other outlets, and share them via our own blog as well. Our late fall 2019 roundup includes CNN, Goop, Hunker, and Sunset.
Click the links below to explore.
CNN: How to Have a Stylish, Sustainable Christmas
Excerpt: Whitney Leigh Morris of the Tiny Canal Cottage showcases some of the truly beautiful gifts she's "wrapped" this season on her blog. She covers her presents with book jackets, tea towels, upcycled and resewn old garments, and cotton muslin cloth bags to wrap up her presents. Sometimes she adds a repurposed ribbon, and she almost always hunts around for some natural ornamentation: "We adorn any gift we're giving with greenery clipped from the garden or from around the neighborhood.” And if they’re not homemade, Morris tries to make sure [gifts are] still environmentally friendly. “When it comes to gifting, we're trying as hard as possible to do locally made goods in sustainable packaging. Because it's not just the present itself that has a carbon footprint— it's the packaging as well. And the more you can cut back on the distance the gift has to travel, the better," says Morris.
GOOP: Holiday Skincare Routine (video)
Excerpt: Tiny-home lifestyle blogger Whitney Leigh Morris has amazing sustainable living tips... AND the best skin routine for glowing skin (all year round, but especially during the holidays).
HUNKER: The Less-Is-More Holiday Gift Guide
Excerpt: Whitney Leigh Morris knows a thing or two about living simply. As one of the pioneers of the tiny home phenomenon and author of Small Space Style, Morris aims to help individuals, couples, and families live comfortably and contentedly in — and with — a smaller footprint. But the holidays are often a time where living simply isn't always easy. With endless parties and pages-long gift lists to cross off, it can often be a challenge to find thoughtful gifts that show you care (without creating more clutter) — which is why we went straight to Morris for help.
SUNSET: The Hottest Holiday Decor Ideas This Season
Excerpt: Sunset’s editors combed through Instagram feeds to find some of their favorite picks and inspiration for holiday decorations this season, from banisters to floral Christmas trees. Here are the grams we’re stealing ideas from this month.Whitney Leigh Morris’ Tiny Canal Cottage spreads the holiday love with ornaments on hanging garlands.
Tiny Adventures: The Venice Canals Holiday Boat Parade
Ever since we moved to the canals, we’ve been attending the annual holiday boat parade, which is my favorite neighborhood event of the year.
In the past, we’ve decorated bridges for the occasion, and in recent years we’ve begun participating in the parade from within our canoe.
This year we didn’t dress a bridge, but we did reuse two oversized peace sign wreaths (made of vines) we had on-hand.
Adam joined the wreaths to the front and rear of the canoe with the gripping poles from our over-the-table iron rod, and added two strands of rechargeable battery-operated twinkle lights. They were sweet and simple. (One sign eventually toppled over in the strong wind, but that provided us with a better view anyway!)
The boat parade is a charmingly homespun affair, as there are no motors allowed on these waterways and the collective mood is more of the attraction than the actual floats.
That’s one of the things I love so much about this event. It’s just so.… Venice.
This post includes some photos I captured this year, along with shots of our canoe snapped by my friend Sara Toufali of Black and Blooms, who rode in tandem with us in a boat generously loaned to us by a neighbor.
Here’s to those who showed up to cheer each other on, sing out in unison, and embrace the wildly creative spirit of our lil’ beachside community.
An Informal (Yet Sentimental) Approach to Festive Tabletops
This post was kindly sponsored by Seventh Generation. All images, words and opinions are my own.
I’ve set my fair share of tables for the holidays, and yet I still can’t remember which utensil goes where, or in what order… nor do I care, to be honest. Tablescapes are like art projects that I (usually) enjoy tackling. Since I still don’t cook, the tabletop design is what I feel I can bring to the dining experience. At least once per holiday season, I try to carve out an hour or two to come up with something special in our tiny home or garden. (The cleanup, however, I’m not so patient with. But more on that later.)
For me, it’s not about new or extravagant dishware, flatware or drinkware. What brings me satisfaction is coming up with creative, unfussy, space-saving formats for sharing the same items I’ve had for decades with our guests, and also figuring out clever ways to make do without formal dining accessories, of which we have none. (Gravy boats? Napkin rings? Chargers? Butter dishes? Salad forks? Glasses for red vs white? Meh. We’re doing just fine without it all.)
While I try not to get to emotionally invested to any of our belongings, I do of course harbor sentimental attachments to certain items:
• The vintage, blue-spotted mugs that I remember using in both of my childhood homes while sitting next to my mom and dad.
• The hand thrown, imperfect plates that a childhood friend made for me when I rented my first apartment sans-roommates in my junior year.
• … And then the jug he made me 9 years later as a housewarming gift when Adam and I moved into the cottage.
• The handmade, ceramic pour-over coffee filter that that the illustrator, editor and I used as inspiration when coming up with visuals and concepts for my book.
• The single spoon I bought for my apartment in southern France, and then revisited repeatedly over the course of a decade, sharing it with old friends and new, as well as my family, before finally slipping it into my carry-on suitcase for the flight home to Venice Beach.
If it all washed away, I’d still experience the visceral feelings when thinking of these pieces.
But while they’re still here with me, I appreciate the chance to honor and tinker with them daily, and share them with loved ones who join us for special holiday meals here in our tiny home. (There is no difference between the items we use when dining as a family vs those we use when hosting.)
Since the house is so small, we have to clean up as we go along. Luckily, everything here is close together, so even if Adam or I are tidying up in the kitchen, we can still talk to our guests who are an arm stretch away in the living/dining room.
On a daily basis, Adam usually immediately washes most of the dishes by hand with soap we get at our local refill station. (Adam is the dishes partner, I’m the laundry partner.) But when we’re entertaining, neither one of us wants to stand hunched over the sink with our back to our guests, so that’s when we finally get to put our dishwasher to use.
I’m not sure if I’d be so bold as to put my beloved ceramics through any sort of machine if I was just starting out with them today. (Nor do I recommend it unless it’s stated as safe by the maker.) But over the years and varying waves of frenzy or absentmindedness, I placed some of these pieces into the dishwasher and was relieved later on to discover that they held up beautifully. So now, when we’re hosting over the holidays, we use the dishwasher without worry.
We don’t go through much dishwasher detergent, but when we need it we can find it within walking distance at Erewhon, or within biking distance at Whole Foods. For years we’ve been using Seventh Generation’s Dishwasher Gel - Free & Clear, which is formulated to work in all dishwashers, and comes in a bottle that’s made with 100% post-consumer recycled materials.
It’s Leaping Bunny certified, and EPA Safer Choice certified. This means that all ingredients— no exceptions— are reviewed and and pass for the safest possible ingredients for human health and satisfying environmental criteria. Seventh Generation’s Dishwasher Gel works on the dishes that we don’t rinse as thoroughly in the throws of hosting (we load them in the bottom rack facing towards the center), and it does so with plant-based enzymes, and without the use of chlorine bleach, dyes, or fragrances. Seventh Generation is a Certified B Corporation, which means it’s certified as being better for workers, better for communities and better for the environment.
Thank you to Seventh Generation for making quality products that we use here in our tiny home, and for sponsoring this post. Partnerships like this help us keep our small creative business in operation, and keep our twinkle lights glowing.
Video: Low Waste Holiday Decor Workshop
With just over a week until the holidays, we decided to do a little low waste decor and upcycling workshop here in Venice at one of my favorite small businesses, Big Red Sun. (Note: Scroll to the bottom of this post for the event video.)
I broke the workshop down into several components / activities:
Repurposing old clothing into reusable gift wrap
Wrapping the clutter-free, low waste gift of biodynamic wine with leaves in lieu of disposable packaging
Creating a zero waste centerpiece entirely from foraged materials
Wreath making (as a low-lift warm up activity to tackle while getting to know new friends)
Discussing the low waste materials and methods used to plan and execute the event itself
ACTIVITY 1: REPURPOSING OLD CLOTHING INTO REUSABLE GIFT WRAP
We hired a Thumbtack Pro to attend the event and repurpose old garments brought in by attendees while the workshop took place. The Pro, Keyra, has been a seamstress, designer and tailor for over 20 years, mainly working in costume fabrication and sewing home decor items.
I brought a stained old holiday romper that once belonged to West’s cousin, and was passed on to West. Kira transformed the piece into a sweet little buttoned pouch for stocking stuffers, and even turned remnants from the jumper into ribbons and ties for miscellaneous use throughout the season. Other attendees brought garments such as lace skirts, bandanas and tops.
ACTIVITY 2: USING LEAVES TO WRAP WINE BOTTLES FOR LOW WASTE, CLUTTER-FREE GIFTING
Our friend at Winc have a line of eco-friendly wines, and they generously gifted us several bottles of one of their biodynamic varieties to use in a zero-waste wrapping activity. The grapes used for this wine are farmed organically and biodynamically, resulting in a wine that’s good for those in search of sustainably farmed, small lot bottles in lieu of mass production and additives.
We wrapped the bottles in soft, flexible leaves, and added decorative organic touches. Each participant had their own style. I chose to show the label, while others wrapped theirs up entirely so the reveal would be part of the gifting process. Some folks chose to wrap only the neck of the bottle, or to create a little trivet of greenery at the base.
ACTIVITY 3: CREATING ZERO WASTE CENTER PIECES WITH FORAGED COMPONENTS
The owner of Big Red Sun, Selena, creates the most gorgeous centerpieces entirely from found organic materials she forages here in Venice.
She turns husks, bark and fronds into oversizes vessels that can be filled with fruit, veggies, acorns, pine cones, moss, flowers, branches, leaves, and a myriad of texture-rich, sweetly scented compostable materials.
For the workshop, we used some of the smaller pieces to craft festive, zero waste decor for our homes and for gifting.
ACTIVITY 4: MAKING LOW WASTE WREATHS
Wreath-making is a great intro activities for a workshop like this. They get attendees warmed up and into the crafting mood, while encouraging conversation that sparks new relationships in the spirit of the holiday.
ACTIVITY 5: ADDRESSING LOW WASTE SOURCING, EVENT SUPPLIES, SIGNAGE, INVITATIONS & TRANSPORT
We tried to keep our carbon footprint in mind from start to finish with this event. From biking whenever possible, to foraging local material rather than buying, to using remnant twine and wire, to bringing existing supplies like clippers and scissors, to using washable drinkware, cloth napkins, and porcelain / glass / ceramic pitchers and platters, we were able to throw a delightful gathering with minimal waste.
I had such a fantastic time conducting the workshop, and getting to see old friends while meeting new ones. Thank you to our event sponsors and attendees for such a joyful holiday experience.
Note: This blog post and the corresponding video were not sponsored, but the event itself was sponsored by our friends at Thumbtack. The biodynamic wine was generously gifted by Winc. (The final photo in this post was taken by Sara Toufali of Black & Blooms.)
Video: The Holidays in a Tiny House
Happy holiday season from our (tiny) home to yours. This time of year can feel loud and frenzied, so I wanted to take a quiet moment to thank you for sharing this <400 sqft space with us. We wish you and yours love and happiness in the coming weeks, and in the new year. (Video by TINYLICIOUS.)
A List of What I’m Gifting (and Why)
As my year-end present of 2019, I’ve asked Adam to please take my two pairs of sunglasses to get repaired, because I keep forgetting or running out of time at the end of every day. That’s really all I want.
As for Adam, he requested a For Days membership, which we handled together. West will be getting a Linus bike and a stack of library books, along with his very own library card. The pups will be getting handmade ceramic dog bowls, because they’ve been eating out of wobbly stainless steel mixing bowls that are officially wrecking the nearby moldings.
The following is what we’re gifting our close family and friends,.
(So, close family and friends: please stop reading here. No peeking. Seriously. Thanks.)
LastSwab
Because LastSwab replaces up to 1000 single-use cotton swabs. Their standard swab and their makeup swab both have a soft-feel tip and are easy to clean. (Get 10% off with the code: tinycanalcottage)
Bite Toothpaste Bits
Because 1 billion toothpaste tubes are thrown away every year. Bite bottles are refillable.
Stojo
Because if I hear one more person say that their reusable bottles are too cumbersome to carry around I’ll scream. With a collapsible, pocket-sized Stojo (which holds cold or hot beverages), there’s no excuse.
Homemade Grape Jam
Because it’s a delicious, homemade, zero waste treat made right here by our extraordinary next door neighbors.
Shampoo + Conditioner Bars
Because the hardest part about changing a habit is taking that first step, for whatever reason. We hope that these bars will come in handy the next time someone runs out of their bottled haircare products, and then become the new normal.
Ritual Vitamins
Because Ritual makes the only multivitamins that don’t make me nauseous, so I want to share the love. Also, while most multivitamins have ingredients we already get from food, Ritual’s capsules contains only the nutrients you we need to fill the gaps, in bioavailable forms our body can actually use.
The Naked Stone
These stones are my favorite discovery of a 2019. They’re total-body, all-purpose moisturizers in the shape of a stone that melts on contact when applied to dry skin. They’re a made-from-scratch revolution against plastics, pumps, and chemicals, and come in a refillable bamboo canister.
Almond Cow
The Almond Cow turns any nut, seed, or grain into homemade plant-based milk in moments.
CLED Jewelry
Hand-formed jewelry made from recycled glass (a natural material mainly composed of sand). This renewable resource can be recycled endlessly, and can be made without causing harm to animals or the environment. CLED’s pieces arrive in their minimal and elegant circular box, which is made from post consumer contents.
Teddi Joelle Bags
I really love Teddi Joelle. Their designs are unique, the craftsmanship is exquisite, their team is lovely, and their style is impeccable.
Vintner's Daughter
It’s not cheap, but for the quality and all the products it replaces, Active Botanical Serum is totally worth it, in my opinion. This serum is a powerful, multi-correctional face oil infused with 22 of the world’s most nutrient-rich botanicals.
From Jennifer Wooden Toys and Activities
This small company makes high quality, practical, delightful, and pretty wooden toys and activities for children of many ages. From tracing boards to perpetual calendars to arts supplies, they have dozens of brilliant, lovingly crafted designs.
Play Silks
Sarah’s Silks is a family owned company specializing in Waldorf inspired sustainable toys for children. Their silks are simple and versatile, and dyed with non-toxic, eco-friendly dyes. (Children 3+)
OddBird Robes
I recently purchased an OddBird robe for West, and was immediately jealous and wanted my own. Luckily they come in multiple sizes and I was able to find a matching one. Now I want to get them for everyone I know. They’re sustainably made in small-batches, using 100% natural fibers and woven by artisans on century-old semi-automatic looms.
Late Sunday Afternoon Ascots
Ascots can be worn in a myriad of ways— around your neck, on your wrist, in your hair, on your bag/pack/basket, and around the brim of your hat. Our friends at Late Sunday Afternoon use locally sourced deadstock fabrics to create their ascots in-house. Any scraps are used to stuff handmade dog beds that they then donate to animal shelters.
"Vivre Mieux Avec Moins" (Swiss Blog Feature)
I’m so delighted to be featured on La Vie Bohème, a beautiful Swiss blog by journalist Céline Perret.
During our nearly 2 hour long interview, Céline and I discussed living better with less, my arc into a greener lifestyle, and the ways in which small space living intertwines with sustainability.
We also discussed the process of writing my book, Small Space Style, and how engaging in brand partnerships has given me the opportunity to dive into lengthy, productive discussions with companies about what they are doing to reduce their footprint, and how consumers can help drive change, too.
To read the article in English, opt for your web browser's auto-translate function.
Images courtesy of La Vie Bohème.
Earth-Friendlier Jewelry
Recently I participated in a discussion conducted for The New York Times about jewelry. The conversation inspired me to post a lil’ roundup of some Earth-friendlier brands and styles for folks who are interested in gifting greener jewelry this holiday season.
CLED
I discovered CLED via Ashlee Piper, the author of Give a Sh*t: Do Good, Live Better, Save the Planet. In forming their brand, CLED aimed to leverage high-quality existing materials to create upcycled and beautiful pieces. Their pieces are hand-formed from recycled glass (a natural material mainly composed of sand). This renewable resource can be recycled endlessly, and can be made without causing harm to animals or the environment. CLED’s pieces arrive in their minimal and elegant circular box, which is made from post consumer contents.
BAYOU WITH LOVE
On recent occasions, I’ve been able to chat with the delightful Nikki Reed about her recycled jewelry brand, Bayou With Love. This small company uses recycled gold, mainly sourced from used technology recovered and responsibly extracted from tech recycling programs. (Only 12.5% of electronics are responsibly recycled globally, and in phones alone Americans throw away more than $60 million in gold and/or silver every year.) Most of the pieces are out of my spending zone, but I do have and very much like this recycled brass scarf ring. (I pair it regularly with my scarves from Late Sunday Afternoon— for every scarf they sell, they create and gift a handmade blanket to children in the foster system in Los Angeles.)
ASCOTS FROM LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON
Ascots can be worn in a myriad of ways— around your neck, on your wrist, in your hair, on your bag/pack/basket, and around the brim of your hat. And while they’re clearly not jewelry, they can be styled as such, which is particularly nice when you have a small child or baby who likes to tug on and taste everything. Our friends at Late Sunday Afternoon use locally sourced deadstock fabrics to create their ascots in-house. Any scraps are used to stuff handmade dog beds that they then donate to animal shelters.
VINTAGE PIECES
What’s better than working with what we already have, rather than creating something entirely new? Vintage pieces, or jewelry that’s hand-crafted with vintage elements, can be such striking one-of-a-kind finds that we can feel good about wearing. For example, Rack and Ruin does a beautiful job of incorporating old components into their modern designs. One of my favorite pieces is this handmade bracelet, which is set with a vintage coin.
SCULPTURAL WOODEN WORKS
I am drawn to wooden jewelry, such as the handmade works of Sophie Monet (who I first discovered via my friends at Midland). Sophie’s pieces are works of art that can withstand the strong grip of my son, and not get trapped in the wild nest of my hair.
SEEDS, LEAVES, FLOWERS, SEA GLASS, SHELLS
I have a handmade, eco-friendly tin necklace pendant that contains a piece of dandelion and a magnifying glass, and 2 bracelets that showcase real dried and pressed greenery. I acquired all of these not only due to their appearance, but also for my son. When we are out and about together and he starts to get impatient with whatever we’re doing, these designs keep him occupied for a few minutes more, and are durable and safe in his lil’ hands. I also have some sea glass pieces from the beachcombers at Sea & Glass, as well as a shell pendant that my mother found at an arts festival in Gainesville, Florida.
HANDMADE & HEIRLOOM
These are the three rings I wear daily— my wedding band (which was my grandmother’s), my engagement ring (which was Adam’s grandmother’s), and a handmade ring by Indra West bearing the name of my son. My favorite source for such pieces (if they’re not handed down directly) is Etsy.
Note: Select photos above were taken at/for Midland by Ashley Randall earlier this year as part of a contributor blog post.
Tiny Adventures: Snowy Stroll in LA
One of the things I enjoy the most about small space living is that it inspires us to seek new experiences beyond our four walls. This is why I occasionally share Tiny Adventures posts here on the Cottage blog. While these posts are personal in nature and not packed with takeaways for readers, the overarching point is that tiny living has helped us save resources that we can occasionally redirect on special lil’ moments such as these. After all, this lifestyle isn’t about all the things you have— it’s about the things you don’t have, and the flexibility that absence can potentially provide.
After years of passing by the faux snow-topped castle of Hogwarts on the freeway here in Los Angeles, Adam and I decided this week to make a last-minute visit the Harry Potter park at Universal. I love rollercoasters, but theme parks in general aren’t really my thing any more. (Thanks to my childhood in Florida, and more than a dozen years here in LA,I’ve visited my share.) The crowds, the noise and the waste have sent me into panic mode on more than one occasion.
But, on this overcast weekday between holidays, we hoped that the park would be less crowded. Luckily this was indeed the case, and we were able to stroll leisurely, avoid any lines, enjoy the holiday decor draped throughout the grounds, and discuss the point at which West might be able to visit this delightfully compact attraction. We expect he’ll be fascinated by the wonky buildings, the creatures, and the secret spots where kids can stand and wave their wands to spark special effects that do indeed feel a bit like magic…
And since the park wasn’t too crowded, we were even able to find quiet areas in which to take business calls, do fundraising and donating for Giving Tuesday, and meet up with our friends from Access Live, which made the half-day out of the office feel satisfyingly productive.
There were drinking fountains readily accessible for filling our collapsible, pocket-sized Stojo cups with water, and we packed our own fruit and nuts to avoid the waste and up-charge on food and beverages. Though I’ll admit that I forked over a silly sum in exchange for a single ornament to add to our holiday garland.
There are major benefits and drawbacks to running your own small business. The ability to enjoy a day such as this is an undeniable benefit (and privilege) for which we are grateful.
Gathering (Lower Waste) Essentials for Unhoused Children
Recently Adam and I learned that there are an estimated 317 boys and girls (ages 5-17) living in cars, on the streets, in shelters, tents and temporary homes here in our part of Los Angeles.* None of these children have a permanent home to return to at the end of a school day. As such, the unified schools in the area have embarked upon a mission to provide these young ones with backpacks stocked with educational and hygiene essentials.
Along with West and our friend Sara Toufali of Black & Blooms, we gathered supplies nearby and then filled some backpacks together at the cottage.
Above: West greeting Sara
Above: Sara took photos of the list and supplies to share with her community to help spread the word.
We tried to avoid plastic products and packaging where possible within our budget limitations. (We failed in several categories, including glue sticks and pencil sharpeners.)
For example, we opted for combination shampoo+conditioner bars (which we think will hopefully last the children longer), Bite Toothpaste Bits and their bamboo brushes, and select items bought in a single bulk package and then divided up into smaller bunches with twine.
(In retrospect, it would’ve been wise to do some of the supply shopping at an office or art store where we could’ve gotten pens and other smaller goods with no packaging involved.)
If you have the means and would like to donate (before December 9th), the link is here. Donations will go to directly to buying backpacks and stocking them with:
blankets
brushes
combs
$25.00 Target/Walmart gift cards
shampoo & conditioner
socks
toothbrushes & toothpaste
wide-ruled paper
color pencils
color markers
erasers
pencils
glue sticks
highlighters
ink pens
notebooks
sharpeners
*Information provided via the Education Committee of the Venice Chamber of Commerce and the unified schools within the area.
Some Items You Can Probably Go Without - Holiday Edition
(NOTE: This original post was published on 11/17/2018, and has been updated for 2019.)
While it's nice to share stories about designs and practices that help us live comfortably and contentedly in small spaces, I think it’s just as important to discuss the things that we can happily live WITHOUT— particularly during the holidays, when “stuff” just of all sorts just seems to swell. After all, making a home of a small space isn’t mainly about figuring out how to cram as much stuff as possible into your compact quarters— it’s about experiencing more by owning less.
As always, before we jump on in, here’s a lil’ disclaimer: To each her or his own. While these items might be easy for easy for some folks to forego, they might be gems elsewhere. You know your own needs and space best. Habits shift, tastes change, lives and practices evolve. Design and decor should be different and enjoyable for everyone. The following is just a small sampling of Holiday items you may want to reconsider. (View all the entries in this series here.)
Disposable Batteries
Love those little warm, battery-operated twinkle lights? Me too! Do you have flameless candles in your child-proofed home? So do we! A great way to cut down own spending and waste is to use rechargeable batteries. A simple 4-slot charger set can usually handle both AA and AAA sized batteries.
Tree Skirt and Tree Pots
Getting a potted, living tree from a responsible grower? Amazing. Depending on your plant nursery, you might even be able to leave their standard plastic pot there for the staff to reuse if you have one on-hand already that you intend to use instead. (Or you can return the pot to the store once you’ve planted your tree.)
Did you get a more traditional tree? Lovely! Challenge yourself to skip a “tree skirt.” Investigate your existing belongings— perhaps you have a washable scarf, Turkish towel, or table runner might work perfectly. Then it can go back to its intended use after the holidays.
Skipping the standard set up? An upcycled wine crate or basket might fit your lil’ tree juuuust right.
Excessive Travel Gear
View my full post: Some Items You Can Go Without: The Travel Edition, here.
Wrapping Paper, Packs of Generic Greeting Cards, and Tags
No need to buy and stash all of those paper goods. Make your own from by repurposing book jackets, newspaper, craft packing paper, canvas shopping bags, tea towels, and more. A bit of twine can cinch it all up with understated elegance, and a creative tag can be made of almost anything— including fallen leaves.
To me, clever packaging such shows more care than the typical store-bought formats. But if you have any shiny new packaging set aside, go ahead and finally put it all to use… then stop the influx of similar purchases in the future. (View my recent post regarding Playful, Low Waste Gift Wrap here.)
New Things
Generic heading, I know. But here’s a typical example of what I mean: Did you get an invite to yet another ugly sweater party? Skip the retailer sweater, which you’ll likely wear once and then toss out, or cram into the back of a drawer for 364 days. “Fast fashion” is terrible for the planet, and there’s no reason to spend real money on a moment like this— particularly since other people will probably have shopped in the same place, and be sporting the same attire. Thrift shops usually have a myriad of options, and there’s oftentimes a charitable element that’s threaded through such businesses. As such, you can feel good about supporting their cause via your discounted, second-hand purchase.
Seasonal Tabletop Decorative Tchotchkes
I love the look of those little holiday villages all lit up on a mantle, but they’re a bit silly in a small space. Same goes for random “winter” objects, artificial pine cones and similar vase-fillers, and seasonal figurines.
Want a festive display that looks great on a surface, doesn’t cost much money (if any), and requires zero storage space? Simple winter branches and florals, dunked into an existing glass, pitcher, watering can, or vase. When they’ve passed their prime, simply compost them or drop them in your city’s green bins. (Don’t get me started on seasonal napkin rings and name card holders. Is there anything more unnecessary?)
Party Supplies
With some greenery, you can easily holiday-up your small space gatherings without buying themed plates, cups, napkins, etc. Just use your everyday tableware, candles and/or twinkly lighting, and then let the clippings, food, and beverage round out the seasonal experience.
Tangible Gifts
There are endless causes for us to support every day of the year. There are millions of people in need of food, clothing, and safe shelter. There are children lacking basic school supplies. There are folks who need financial support for out-of-the-ordinary medical issues and family emergencies. Consider donations instead of tangible gifts.
If you’d still prefer to give something to your recipient directly, perhaps an experience would be welcome. A museum membership, a quick getaway, or a meal with friends and family are all lovely options.
We all know this, but it’s helpful to remind ourselves that it’s NOT ABOUT THE STUFF.
Decorating for the season can be so delightful, but it’s really all about making human connections, giving back to our communities, engaging with one another, loving each other, and sharing the responsibilities of protecting our planet.
Festive, Outdoor Vibe for Indoor, Small Space Dining
Gathering with friends and/or family around a table in a small home or apartment can be such a uniquely intimate experience. But during the holidays— when we tend add extra decorative touches and welcome more people to the table than usual— surface space needed for tabletop essentials can suddenly become extra challenging to preserve.
Certain items can help with this, such as rectangular plates and pedestal/cake stands. (Skipping some of the superfluous things you don’t need, such as napkin rings, chargers and placemats can save inches as well.) But if you want to add some wild branches or lush floral/greenery/dried bouquets to your table, you might be out of luck. As such, I wanted to demonstrate an easy, low waste way to add striking decor to your table without sacrificing your dining surface. (I also offer up additional suggestions in my book: Small Space Style.)
This display cost me about $150. I bought the garland and branches from a local shop, and used an over-the-table adjustable iron rod and battery operated twinkle lights (with rechargeable batteries) to create an overgrown and glittering display indoors. (I used real candles for the photos, but swapped them out for battery operated versions for safety after we snapped the images.) A bit of floral wire (and a vacuum) were the only other items I needed to attain the look.
Setting up the iron display rod took only a few minutes. The height is fixed, but the width is adjustable. When the setup is no longer needed, it breaks down easily for slim storage.
I used all living branches and clippings, so everything can be composted when the time comes.
Adding the clippings to the garland took the longest, but was simple enough.
The entire process took about 90 minutes, and it was a surprisingly relaxing activity for me.
I (still) don’t really cook, nor do we host that often these days, so I enjoyed going out of my way to do something special for the guests we’ll have over in the coming days.
I’ll share a small space, low waste holiday decor video and post in early December.
In the meantime, I’m looking forward to spending time with our friends and family here at home. (And I’ll be following along with The Conscious Kid for insights and information regarding Native American Heritage Month.)
Whatever you and yours are doing this holiday, we wish you a safe and happy long weekend.
Gifting Books
I’m very vocal about my love of libraries. We have 2 within walking/biking distance of our tiny home, and we visit them weekly.
When journeying beyond LA, we always try to explore the library of the town we’re exploring.
Above: West at the library in Santa Fe, NM (November 2019)
Any time we discover a book we particularly love, I try to support the author (and illustrator, when applicable).
Sometimes we will buy a copy of a book for ourselves or as a gift. Sometimes we’ll share our favorable opinion with friends and family, or publish our thoughts via Instagram. (As an author myself, I find this sort of word of mouth to be of such value— both personally and professionally.)
This holiday season, I wanted to share a few of our recent favorites that we are reading and gifting. Some were recently published, some are older. I’m posting them here to thank their makers for creating such informative or delightful publications.
For those who want to better understand why repurposing matters:
Secondhand, by Adam Minter
In a world that craves shiny and new, is there room for it all? Secondhand offers hopeful answers and hard truths, while revealing the marketing practices, design failures, and racial prejudices that push used items into landfills instead of new homes. Secondhand shows us that it doesn't have to be this way, and what really needs to change to build a sustainable future free of excess stuff.
For those who love tiny houses:
Tiny House, by Brent Heavener
This fittingly compact yet stunningly beautiful book by Brent Heavener (the founder of @TinyHouse) showcases some of the dreamiest and most clever small space residences I’ve ever seen. (I snapped a few preview shots below to share some of my personal favorites in the book.) It’s a great lil’ coffee table book that can easily be wrapped up in a reusable cloth napkin and slide into a stocking for a lucky recipient.
For those who love crafts:
Modern Rug Hooking by Rose Pearlman
If you’re into crafting items by hand for your home by hand, Rose’s exquisite new book is filled with how-tos for creating clever, lovely, low waste needle projects.
For those striving to live a greener lifestyle:
Sustainable Home by Christine Lu
Give a Sh*t by Ashlee Piper
For those raising little ones to be in tune with the natural world:
How to Raise a Wild Child by Scott D. Sampson
Picture books (with messages of love) for the lil’ ones:
Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth by Oliver Jeffers
The Big Umbrella by Amy June Bates
Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed
For folks who want bright and colorful homes:
Living With Color by Rebecca Atwood
For those who want help styling and maintaining houseplants:
Wild at Home by Hilton Carter
For Americans who want to create and protect policies for a safer and more just existence for all:
Fight Like a Mother by Shannon Watts
How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
Additional books we enjoy and intend to share:
Woman of Color by Latonya Yvette
Simple Matters by Erin Boyle
Foxfire Living by Eliza Clark & Tim Trojian
The Way of the Woodshop by Aleksandra Zee
Reduced Waste Skin Care while Traveling
On our recent back-to-back trips to New Mexico and Oregon, I shared a few glimpses into my low waste, travel skincare products/routine. Upon request, I’m going into greater detail about it here on the blog. Much like my routine at home, it’s fairly simple and low on packaging:
Makeup Removal
I have a few refillable glass pots from ReContained, and I use one for a bit of coconut oil for makeup removal when traveling. (I simply siphon off a lump from my standard mason jar of coconut oil at home.) I’ve found that this type of oil is entirely effective at naturally removing both standard and waterproof makeup, without drying out the skin or wearing thin the sensitive skin beneath the eyes.
Wash
A combination charcoal + tea tree oil bar soap from Package Free Shop is my favorite new nearly-zero-waste addition/swap to my routine. When traveling, I don’t even have a dedicated container for it. I simply make sure that it’s completely dry, and then I pop it into a beeswax wrap and add it to my toiletries pouch.
Above: Wearing a coverall jumpsuit inspired and co-created by my friend Ellen Marie Bennett.
Exfoliate
This product isn’t zero waste (it comes in a petite plastic tub), but it is very long lasting, small enough to clear TSA, and was the final piece of the puzzle for me when it comes to attaining a clear complexion. The products I mention in the next category fully transformed my skin for the infinitely better, but this exfoliation component was something I was missing. Since using this product I’ve had zero cysts, and an even tone across all areas of my face (rather than having zones with differing qualities).
Moisturize & Repair
My 2 must-haves are a (newly released) travel bottle of Vintner’s Daughter Active Botanical Serum, plus their second product— Active Treatment Essence— dropped into a generic glass travel vial.
Spot Treat
I recently switched to a tea tree oil spot treatment (a more natural alternative to the one I’d been using) that comes in a slim, glass roll-on serum from the Package Free Shop. So far it has been music to my skin, and it’s easy to pop into a medicine cabinet, pocket, wallet or zipper pouch for local or long distance adventures.
Full Body Moisturizing
I use The Body Stone, a safe and effective moisturizing stone that comes in a refillable bamboo canister. After dozens of uses, the stones break down into smaller pieces, which are perfect for continued use and also conveniently smaller for travel. (You can even drop a bit or two into a tub for a relaxing body soak.)
Tone
I’ll sometimes bring my NuFace FIX if I’m attending work events or shoots while away. (View my post on this product line here.) I also toss a few washable face pads and makeup wipes into my toiletries pouch.
Gifts Made at Home or From Recycled Materials
Note: This post was sponsored by GOLDTOE® in promotion of their “Recycled Lodge Collection” socks. All opinions are my own. All words are my own, with the exception of exact products descriptions, which are unchanged to maintain accuracy. As always, any imagery showing the pups was captured while they interacted in their own natural ways.
This tiny cottage has not only been our home for nearly nine years— it has also been an unexpected teacher.
Long ago we began to reevaluate how and what we consume, and modified our habits accordingly. We actively consider each and every item (and I mean each and every item) before we introduce it to our small space, and we also put the same amount of thought into each and every item we acquire for gifting purposes.
Adam and I try to be as certain as possible that the recipient will use and enjoy anything we gift, rather than feel weighed down by yet another object given simply for the sake of giving. However, it can be a bit of a challenge to select presents for folks when you aren’t fully familiar with their lifestyle and preferences.
(For example: What do we give our neighbor 2 doors down with whom we chat daily, but whose home we’ve never been into? And what do we offer the lovely woman at our corner coffee shop who greets West every morning with a genuine smile and loving hug before stepping aside to chat with us at length, but whose tastes we know very little about?)
To avoid generating waste and excess while also providing something that’s hopefully practical and delightful, we usually come up with some sort of yearly bundle.
This year, we’ve opted for a simple collection of low waste goods, outlined below.
Contents:
Homemade concord jam made from the grapes off the cottage vine
Cozy socks made from recycled water bottles
A refillable stainless steel water bottle and/or glass household soap container
Locally made olive oil in a reusable glass bottle
Packaging:
A dried or clipped flower/branch
A dish towel or multi-use cloth (in lieu of tissue paper or filler)
An upcycled wine crate or repurposed basket (in lieu of a new box or bag)
HOMEMADE JAM
The jam is far more the handiwork of our neighbors than our own. (See my full post about that here.) Adam and I have made it before and enjoy the cottage grapes annually, but it’s the hard work of our neighbor, Kevin, that produces the jam we end up giving to friends and family.
What I love most about this item is that it’s something unique to our home. The grapes are grown here, and the jam is crafted in a tiny space with love and care. It’s then given in an endlessly reusable glass mason jar.
“RECYCLED LODGE COLLECTION” SOCKS
The socks are the newcomers to our bundles this year, because who doesn’t need socks? And GOLDTOE® is now making boot socks knit with Repreve® yarns, which are made from recycled plastic bottles, while still delivering premium quality and comfort.
Repreve® has recycled over 17 billion bottles, effectively keeping them from landfills and waterways. (Remember— only about 9% of recyclables ACTUALLY end up getting recycled.) Instead of making what's called virgin fiber, making REPREVE® offsets using new petroleum, emitting fewer greenhouse gases and conserving water and energy in the process.
GOLDTOE® uses this fiber in their sophisticated yet playfully designed socks, which are durable, moisture wicking, and provide adaptive warming + cooling.
Since GOLDTOE® socks have become our favorites here at home (particularly at this time of year), we feel like they make for sensible and thoughtfully created gifts for almost any recipient.
REFILLABLE CONTAINERS
A stainless steel bottle and/or a refillable jar for household liquids is another type of gift we enjoy giving. It might seem generic, but when I see just how often the bottles I gave to my friends as part of my book release bundle are used, I realize what a dent an item like that can actually make towards helping individuals and families reduce their single-use plastic waste.
OLIVE OIL
Food and beverage can make for such excellent clutter-free presents. But when you don’t know the dietary preferences and restrictions of certain recipients, olive oil can jump in as a neutral (though not boring) option. We get ours from a local bakery, and the contents are just as beautiful as they are delicious.
Here’s to showing love and appreciation to others with the help of thoughtful, greener gifting this holiday season.
Tiny Adventures: Oregon
Adam and I decided it was time for a last minute tiny adventure with our little one.
We booked a quick, 3 day trip to Oregon (with some vouchers generously provided to us by our preferred airline, Alaska Air).
I’ve always wanted to visit Portland, so we rented a little Airbnb and took a few days to explore the city, and worked in a drive to the coast to see Cannon Beach.
We used every minute we could, eagerly exploring sights such as the Japanese Botanical Gardens, Caravan: The Tiny House Hotel, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Nob Hill (where our Airbnb was located), the sky tram, the Portland street car (West’s request), and numerous restaurants, parks and streets.
The journey to and from Cannon Beach was spectacular, offering foggy views of towering conifers, and green fields dotted with enormous elk. (And of course the beach and tiny town were both breathtaking.)
This post serves as our lil’ photo journal of the trip.
I am hoping to return soon to visit some of the smaller towns surrounding Portland, as well as Bend. Those lush woods and green hillsides are calling...
