My Functional Uniform While Staying "Safer at Home"
My friends and Venice neighbors over at Late Sunday Afternoon made an epic hoodie that was intended for use while traveling and on adventures, but I must say— I’ve found it to be pretty damn useful at home. Especially as we progress through our 3rd week of adhering to Los Angeles’ Safer at Home + social distancing orders.
Plus, it pretty much sums up my mood lately:
Per my previous post, I find it super helpful to stick to a set of tips and rules when attempting to juggle the live/work realities of life in our small space during unique time.
For example, I always get dressed in the morning (even if it’s swapping one pair of stretchy pants for another).
And I aim to keep essentials (such as my password book, my phone, and my lemon water) at-hand… not because walking the whopping 6 steps across our tiny home is an inconvenience, but because when I somehow manage to accomplish a chunk of work during the day, I don’t want anything unnecessary to derail my train of thought or productivity.
And I usually cocoon myself with some sort of personal audio buffer while I work. The combination of my AirPods and the built-in padding around the ears on this hoodie are surprisingly effective at muffling the delightful but highly distracting sounds of my 4 beloved housemates.
I’m also partial to this piece because Late Sunday Afternoon makes baby blankets for children in foster care with the first and last yard of every roll of deadstock fabric they use for their signature ascots and multi-functional scarves, which they sew in-house. And their Venice store operates at nearly zero waste, using fabric scraps to stuff dog beds that they then donate to local shelters.
For this unisex hoodie, The Apollo 1, which was entirely designed, knitted and loomed here in LA, they used 30oz Natural, undyed French Terry Cotton. Some of the hoodie’s clever features include:
Extra padding for the ears
A secret iPhone pocket in the kangaroo pouch (made from antimicrobial fabric) that supports the weight of the phone without slouching the belly of the sweatshirt
A built-in eye-mask
An interior loop for keys (or, in my case, my iPhone earbud holder)
Extra padding on the elbows
This ethically-produced, functional top feels like a protective hug, which is something I appreciate now more than ever.
Note: This post was not sponsored. I simply love Late Sunday Afternoon, along with their unique and magical team and creations.
Tips for Working Effectively from a Small Home / Apt During the Pandemic
I recently published a post entitled: Creating a Makeshift Home-Office in a Small Space, and it sparked further questions from readers who are feeling cramped and distracted while trying to maintain a productive workflow since relocating their workspaces to their compact, shared residences due to COVID-19..
Above: Screenshots from our 1-minute IGTV video about streamlining a small home-office.
Many of you have requested help with establishing and maintaining more efficient practices for working in tight quarters with a partner, roommate and/or children ever-present, so here are 14 accessible tips I’ve learned over the course of a dozen years of operating a business full-time from small residences.
Photo from 2017
Keep in mind that some days will undoubtedly be more challenging than others, but the privilege of working from home is something to acknowledge and keep in mind. So many people are suddenly out of work across the globe, and medical professionals, delivery personnel and workers tied to essential businesses are putting themselves at risk to keep the rest of us safe. Staying home— even if it’s not your preference— is important for our communities, so let’s make it work.
Make your bed
Studies show that people who make their beds tend to be more productive. But in a small space, I think that making the bed is doubly important. With limited square footage, the bed can become a useful surface for random tasks throughout the day, such as sorting/filing/printing papers.
Carve out time for self care
Whether it’s as simple as brushing your teeth, washing your face or taking a shower— or more involved, like doing Yoga, making coffee/tea/a smoothie, putting on makeup if that’s your preference, and/or taking your pets for a (responsible!) walk, make sure to carve out time in your morning before work to accomplish the things you’d normally do before leaving your home for an office job.
Get dressed
I know this is often recommended to the point of exhaustion. Still, it really is helpful— even if you’re not on Zoom / FaceTime meetings during the day.
Set up a pop-up workspace if you don’t have a dedicated one
If you have a dedicated desk or dining table, fantastic. If not, create a pop-up workspace. Depending on your living situation, this might mean converting an end table into an office, employing a collapsible bistro table, or using a lap tray in bed. Whatever it is, set yourself up with the tools you’ll need throughout the day, so that you won’t loose your train of thought or productivity by having to get up and find supplies (and thus risk getting distracted) while you’re in a positive workflow. If possible, set up shop by a window, or place a mirror nearby to reflect the natural light from the closest window. In situations like these, I believe it can be emotionally beneficial to get some exposure to nature and/or your community while you work.
Clock-in
Set a time to start and stick to it. I believe this is why I have been so productive at working from home over the past dozen years. When I first began working remotely, I had a client with whom I had to check in every morning at 8AM, and that obligation provided a me with a sense of formal structure, much like a standard office does.
Set your phone timer for scheduled breaks
When you’re working from home, it can be tempting to hop up and take care of chores around the house. Overall, it’s a great gift to be able to check off your personal to-do list while simultaneously addressing your professional duties. But the reality is that this can be distracting and derailing. Instead of succumbing to the urge to steal random moments to manage chores, set timers on your phone to coincide with the times of day you’ll likely need a brief break to stretch and use the bathroom. At those intervals, allot an extra handful of minutes for calling a friend, getting a snack, doing the dishes, watering the plants, tending to personal matters, etc. Let your parter / child / roommate know when these breaks are scheduled so you can touch base or get out of each others way if needed. When your timer sounds again to signify the break is up, back to work!
Try earbuds or noise-canceling headphones
Whether you prefer to listen to music, need silence, or simply can’t stand another minute of your housemate’s keyboard clacking, invest in a pair of earbuds or noise canceling headphones if possible.
Consider a curtain or screen
It might be worthwhile to use a makeshift curtain, accordion screen or a room divider of some sort to cordon off your work zone. (There’s plenty more about this topic in my book, Small Space Style.) Beyond adding a sense of privacy, this can provide physical and symbolic boundaries for those with whom you share your home. It can also keep your eager eyes in check when they’re tempted to wander over to the snack shelf or laundry pile when they should be focused on your work instead.
Practice In-House Texting
This might seem absurd in a small home or apartment, but consider texting your partner/roommate/etc. or asking them to text you if something needs to be discussed. That way you will see the text when you choose to look at your phone and can then respond accordingly, rather than being yanked abruptly from a focused moment. (Adam and I often do this, even though we live in under 400 sqft… it works.)
Explore storing your administrative supplies in more than one area if you’re feeling cramped
While it’s handy to keep your must-haves within arm’s reach (as mentioned in tip 4, above), you don’t need to cram ALL of your supplies into one area in your small home office. If you rarely use a printer but have one, perhaps store it somewhere else so that you don’t feel like your work zone is taking over your home. (Examples of this can be found in the IGTV video linked at the start of this post.) Same goes for bulky files, business tools, etc— especially if you’re sharing them with someone else in the home. Spreading accessories out will aid with storage, but it will also allow all parties to use the same items throughout the day without distracting each other when crossing zones to borrow this-or-that.
Temporarily delete apps that distract
If you’re tempted to check non-essential apps on your phone, consider deleting them during the work day, and reinstalling them after you’ve “clocked out”.
Clock out
Just like clocking in, a clocking out routine can be useful for maintaining a live/work divide. Stow office items until the next work day, freeing up your home for personal activities and family time.
The night before, set up an activity for your kid(s) for the morning
If you’re feeling like the mornings are too hectic, analyze why. Do your kids need something to keep them safely occupied while you go about your self care routine and/or prepping your workspace? Perhaps plan and set up an activity for the morning that will keep them happy so you can stick to your schedule.
Prep Meals
If you find yourself hanging out in the kitchen more than you normally do, perhaps prep your meals and snacks in advance. This can prevent wasted time, and while potentially encouraging a healthier diet since we all need to keep our immune systems healthy while this virus circulates through our communities. Not only that, but preparing food in advance is a wise way to ration food within your household, limiting possible exposure from potentially avoidable grocery shopping trips and/or deliveries.
Remember: We’re all in it together. You’ve got this.
"Small Wonder" Feature in "Wild Interiors"
Despite the fact that Adam and I have been together for more than a quarter of my life (WHAT IS TIME?!), we really have so few photos together. Our extraordinary friend Hilton Carter (@hiltoncarter) took this portrait here at the cottage while he was snapping imagery for his new book, Wild Interiors.
Above: Outtake photo from the Cottage by Hilton Carter for his new book, Wild Interiors.
At one point during the photoshoot, Hilton paused to adjust the settings on his camera, and Adam and I kept standing there in the garden, arms locked around each other. Hilton eventually looked up at us and said: “you two know I’m not taking photos now, right?”
Above: Outtake photo from the Cottage by Hilton Carter for his new book, Wild Interiors.
We knew. But even after being in such close proximity to one other for day and night, year after year, we still want to wrap ourselves together and hold one another up. I’m so thankful to Hilton for capturing that love, and for including us in his second book.
Above: Author, filmmaker, and plant + interior stylist Hilton Carter at the Cottage in 2019.
Hilton’s newest book, Wild Interiors, is as stunningly beautiful to look as it is informative (and often hilarious) to read.
The pages are overflowing with his signature texture-rich photographs, layered with depths of lush greenery and brilliantly orchestrated interiors.
Above: The outdoor shower at the Cottage featured in Wild Interiors.
Wild Interiors opens with Hilton guiding readers through his own epic plant journey, and sharing his inspirations and favorite house plants. It then showcases the residences of 12 plant parents (Adam and myself gratefully included), that demonstrate the versatility of decorating with plants.
Above: Photo from the Cottage by Hilton Carter as seen in his new book, Wild Interiors.
From there, Hilton ushers audiences through a room-by-room profile of the plants that are most suited to each type of space within a home.
About the book:
Wild Interiors is my follow up to my first book, Wild at home. Instead of showcasing my home and studio, I traveled the world to show you the beautiful spaces of others. First I take you through my own plant journey, inspirations, and my top ten favorite house plants of the moment. I then grab your hand and take you along with me on a Journey in Greenery where I showcase the homes of 12 inspiring plant parents that demonstrate the versatility of decorating with plants. From a tiny house in Venice, California and a light-filled loft in New York City, to a Berlin apartment decorated with vintage finds, and the Barcelona home of a ceramic artist, there are ideas for all types of spaces and budgets. I then set you off on your very own plant journey, taking you room by room, profiling the plants that are most suited to each: those that thrive in the tropical humidity of bathrooms, the erratic heat changes of kitchens, and plants that can live happily in the indirect light of an entryway or bedroom. Packed full of interior design advice such as using “statement plants” like Fiddle-leaf figs to create a focal point, how to layer your greenery by using hanging baskets, and how to assemble the perfect plant shelf, I show you how bringing houseplants into your home creates instant impact. Be inspired to create your own Wild Interiors with my styling advice, plus my hints and tips on plant care that take the mystery out of looking after your green friends.
Above: Author, filmmaker, and plant + interior stylist Hilton Carter at the Cottage in 2019.
I am in such awe of Hilton Carter and his myriad of talents, and I’m honored that the Cottage and my family are part of his gorgeous new book. We are lucky and endlessly grateful that Hilton and his wife, Fiona, are part of our lives.
Keeping Our Small Space Organized While on Lockdown
Our family was practicing strict social distancing for a week prior to Los Angeles issuing its “Safer at Home” lockdown order. And while life beyond our walls has changed drastically— as it has for everyone— our existence at home is oddly similar to how it’s been for years.
For example:
We are used to being mere inches from one another for days on end.
We rarely use the car, as we have no daily commute and are lucky enough to be able to bike around town instead.
We don’t use disposable goods (such as tissues, paper towels, toilet paper, cotton rounds, tampons/pads, disposable razors, or ear swabs), so there’s no need to stock up.
We’ve long spent the majority of each week with our son here at home as we balance the full-time operations of our small business. As such, we’re used to both the challenges and joys that such a situation presents.
In recent months, while working from home as usual, I found myself perched at the kitchen counter more, and seated at my desk less. Since West usually plays in the main room (behind my desk chair), it no longer felt natural to sit with my back towards that area. By contrast, from the kitchen counter I can observe him while going about all of my administrative work, which is why started to transform it into my office every morning.
Above photo: February 2019
In its neglect, the area around my desk began to get visually overrun from oversized toy trucks, canvas bags of puzzle pieces, instruments and so forth. While I firmly believe that it’s better for the planet and for our wallets to focus on curbing our belongings rather than constantly searching for storage solutions, sometimes adjustments simply need to be made to furnishings and accessories in order to cultivate comfort and calm in a small space.
Above photo: September 2019
So, despite the fact that I really love my convertible desk that transitions from a standing workspace to a seated one, I loaned it out so that I could replace it with concealed storage. (In doing this I broke one of my own rules— holding on to something that we no longer need. But one day I know I’ll require a desk again, and the lift desk has been perfect for me.)
Before selecting anything new, Adam and I reviewed how we wanted to be able to better navigate the main room, starting with the rug.
The old rug deliberately divided our multi-purpose room into 2 zones: the play space and the work space. There was just enough wiggle room for me to scoot my desk chair back on our worn hardwood floor before bumping into the “living room” rug., where West plays for several hours per day.
We decided we wanted a few extra inches of exposed floor by the front door since we have no entryway or dedicated landing zone. And while the old rug served us beautifully in this immensely high-traffic room for years, it had become too dirty to deep clean, and it was too close to the front door to fully escape grimy shoes and muddy paws.
At the same time, we wanted a few extra inches of rug where my desk chair used to be, so that the room felt like the unified space into which it had naturally evolved.
I knew I wanted a vintage piece, but I was having a hard time finding something in the abnormal size our funny little space requires, which is around 5’ x 6’. Eventually I found THE ONE via Lulu & Georgia, which has numerous vintage home goods, as well revolving capsule collections of vintage rugs.
I’d also had my eye on some vintage dressers to put in place of my beloved desk, but I kept running into hurdles. They were too big, too restrictive in the design of the cubbies/drawers/slots, or they weren’t the right height, color or shape.
Since I was getting the rug from Lulu & Georgia, a business with which I worked in the past to outfit parts of Amy Adams’ production offices, I asked them if they had a flawed or damaged version of their Maci Dresser that they couldn’t sell that I could take off their hands. The Maci measures very close to the dimensions I’d wanted, and has 9 practical drawers. To my delight, we were able to rescue a piece, which we then introduced it to its new (tiny) home.
Above photo was styled for a shoot, rather than set up for our standard use.
The instant we brought the Maci into the cottage I knew that it was the right piece for our needs, but it still took some getting used to. We’ve always had an open-backed, slim-legged desk in that space, which kept the line of sight open.
But after about 2 days, our routine has greatly benefitted from this new addition.
Throughout the drawers, I’m able to store West’s sofa-bed linens and our guest bedding, our reusable to-go food and beverage supplies and bulk shopping bags, and all of West’s toys and supplies. We even have some drawers to spare for the future.
These pieces have allowed us to function more efficiently and comfortably within our compact space, and are particularly helpful as we hunker down in our tiny home-office together.
Making Space for Schooling in a Small Home / Apartment
At 8 a.m. every morning, I prep our tiny house for a hodgepodge of learning activities for our little one. It’s not homeschooling. It’s... what? Home learning? I’m not sure what to call it. But whatever it is, I hope I don’t mess it up, and that I grow and learn right by my child’s side.
Despite the fact that my mom was an educator for nearly 50 years, I’m terrible at this sort of thing. Not even just with West, but for myself as well. I’ve always been better at working and reading than at formal schooling.
I should note that my child is only 3½, so I’m focused on making sure he’s exposed to new experiences within our tiny home in the months to come, as opposed to focusing on a curriculum. And, of course, Adam is doing all of this with me.
Some resources we’ve found useful this week:
Authors and actors reading children’s books on Instagram Live. This helps enhance our library since we can’t go to the library for new books at this time. Some examples are Save with Stories and Oliver Jeffers, but there are SO many more.
Running spreadsheets, texts and DMs with friends, family and our Instagram community.
As the days and weeks progress, I’ll share more snippets of what we’re doing, and how we’re navigating this new version of life within our limited space. In the meantime, stay safe and well.
Note: The folding desk + chair pictured in this post was a vintage find on Etsy. I searched for months until I discovered the exact item I’d been envisioning. I aim to responsibly produce a handful of small space items like this for those who want them. Hopefully once we’re on the other side of this thing...
(The photos featuring Whitney were taken at the cottage by tinylicious.co.)
Working From Home: Creating a Makeshift/Temporary Home-Office in a Small Space
With so many people practicing social distancing and suddenly working remotely from their small homes/apartments, I wanted to share this 1-minute Tiny Takeaways episode (embedded below or viewable via my IGTV channel on Instagram) that I created last year about streamlining a compact home office.
Our tiny home-office has been the full-time workspace for my small business since we moved into the Cottage 9 years ago. And, for the past 3 years, Adam has worked here with me as well.
We float all over our tiny house, working from the desk, the breakfast counter, or on a folding table around the interior and exterior.
The video demonstrates a few tips and tools that help us make it work. More small space office solutions are available via my book, Small Space Style: Because You Don’t Need to Live Large to Live Beautifully.
Choosing a Single New Toy
Time and time again, Adam and I are reminded that our child (who is now 3½) rarely needs new toys to keep him happy— even in the familiar and rather confined setting of our tiny home and garden. Instead, he simply replies upon a handful of crucial goods: library books, toy trucks, rocks, bubble solution, and toy building materials.
While other objects and activities certainly entertain him and spark new experiences, these are the cornerstones to which he always returns.
We get new library books weekly. (And last week we stocked up on the largest haul yet since we’re now practicing social distancing.)
I try to keep West’s collection of trucks on a random rotation, so he doesn’t become weary of or reliant upon one distinct style or another.
Lately I’ve been considering what items we should ideally have here in our home to entertain West in case prolonged distancing / confinement is recommended to help keep our community’s most vulnerable members safe during the pandemic.
With the exception of library books and a wooden pulley, he hasn’t gotten anything “new” since the holidays.
Since then, I’ve had my eye on a bundle of magnetic, wooden Earthtiles from Big Future Toys.
Not only are they beautifully designed, but I appreciate that they can be used for hours of structured or unstructured creative play and in numerous permutations.
They’re made of non-toxic wood that’s sustainably sourced from FSC-certified sources, and with every purchase from their site, Big Future Toys plants a tree.
But before introducing ANYTHING new into our home, we consider what happens to that item at the end of its life cycle.
Ultimately we decided on these tiles, as we’ll undoubtedly enjoy them with West for years, and can then extend their use by donating them to our library, or returning them to Big Future Toys for refurbishment and rehousing.
We’re giving away a set of these brilliant lil’ tiles over on Instagram. Visit the post to enter for a chance to win what has quickly become our favorite toy here in the tiny house.
Physical Distancing (Weekend 1)
In the coming days and weeks, I’ll share organizing + decluttering guides for those remaining inside their small homes or apartments, coupled with stories and images showing what we’re doing in this time of physical separation. In the meantime, a few thoughts…
“Our mindset is so powerful that it can convince us that a scarcity exists, throwing us into unnecessary competition and thereby objectively creating the scarcity we initially feared. Key to this shift away from competition is that giving makes us happy, so while we act primarily in service to others during times of great hardship, we are also, in fact, acting in service to ourselves. In times of profound suffering and great need, we rise to the occasion, we stand shoulder to shoulder in support. The impulse to gather in a circle of care for one another must be extended to our efforts to address the climate crisis.” - The Future We Choose: Surviving the Climate Crisis
On our first weekend of social distancing, we’ve kept busy inside our tiny cottage as welcome storms have rolled through our region. We connected with our next door neighbor across the porch (through our Dutch door and his closet window). We chatted with the couple on the other side of the fence. We reached out to thank friends in the medical field. We offered assistance to some nearby folks who might need it in the weeks to come. We FaceTimed family. We group texted friends. I caught up on some DMs.
We are physically at a distance, but we’re all emotionally joined. Let’s remain together, shall we? Not just through this crisis, but through larger one that encompasses everything…
Photos taken at the cottage by tinylicious.co.
Jewelry handmade by Maddalena Bearzi.
Slow Fashion: Footwear
One of my goals for 2020 was to learn more offline by taking classes, participating in workshops and reading the books that had been gathering dust on our built-in shelves or at the library.
On the the topic of slow fashion, I started by devouring the book Fibershed (HIGHLY recommended), and signing up for sewing classes at Moving Thread. I followed this up with clothing repair workshops at R[eco]ntained and Rudy Jude with Adam.
I also subscribed to Aja Barber’s Patreon, so while online I’m also continuing the my sustainable fashion education.
But I was so curious about shoes, too. What does the shoemaking process entail? And if most “vegan leather” is plastic, how do we approach leather products and find life-long pieces that are ethically crafted?
(I should note here that while our family isn’t vegan, we are vegetarian and we eat an almost entirely local, plant-based diet. Even the dogs no longer eat meat. We do, however, still get eggs from a local regenerative farm, Apricot Lane Farms.)
I signed up for a sandal making workshop at These Hands Maker’s Collective, which offers a diverse array of classes.
This one was conducted by Stace Fulwiler, who is driven by sustainability and a ‘less, but better’ approach.
She teaches sandal making workshops in an effort to revive and demystify the lost art of sandal making, and to enable others to reclaim the joy of using their own two hands to finish a project.
Since taking the class, I haven’t been able to look at a pair of shoes the same way. And the only new pair I’ve introduced to my collection (other than the fantastic sandals I made that day) are handmade clogs by Bryr Studio.
Bryr Studio clogs are made by hand in their San Francisco workshop. Their leathers are sourced from US tanneries, using ecological manufacturing processes, while their bases are hand routed out of solid wood that’s lightweight and strong. It’s Bryr’s artistry and style that caught my eye, and their comfortable and simple yet high-quality, durable designs that made me a repeat customer. (These are my second pair. I wish I’d had them for my wedding. Sigh.)
I hope to look back at these photos in the years to come and still have the same pieces in regular use. (As I discussed in this recent post, newness is not the point.)
“Vote with your money. Most important, eliminate waste. Apply the old-fashioned adage of reduce, reuse, recycle. When we need to buy things, our choices should be informed…”
- The Future We Choose: Surviving the Climate Crisis
Note: The dress featured in this post is a dress from years ago, and is not a sustainably made piece. But, since it’s in my wardrobe, I’ll wear it until it falls apart. Much like plastic, I believe it does no good to just chuck our unwise past purchases in a donation box, as we now know that roughly 84% of donations end up in landfills. If I’ve got it, I’m going to use it. And once something truly needs replacing, I’ll buy smarter.
On My 39th Birthday
Today is my 39th birthday, and I want to celebrate in a meaningful way.
If you’ve ever found any information we’ve shared to be valuable, and if it’s comfortably within your means, I’m asking you to please give $5 to The RightWay Foundation this weekend as a way of celebrating with me! (If you make a donation, please make a note of why in the digital Donor Scroll so I can personally thank you!)
We have everything we could possibly need here in our tiny home. We want everyone to be able to have those same comforts. Our friends at this marvelous nonprofit provide transitional age and emancipated foster care youth with mental health and employment services, all within the framework of a safe and loving community, putting them on a path for a prosperous future.
Thank you, as always, for being here and supporting our small home/business/family, as well as the organizations that our near and dear to our hearts.
Here’s to 39!
Happily Going Gray
I decided a while back to let my hair go through its natural graying process without interfering with it or trying to cover it up. I figured this was just one more way to save time and money— plus I really don’t mind the pops of silver.
I know that the wiry strands are nearly imperceptible in some photos, but there are plenty there— especially when I pull it all up into a bun.
Since I pretty much fall asleep by 9 each night, I think they suit me well. 👵🏼
Photos taken by Tinylicious
Saving in Small Ways
One of the many things I appreciate about small space living is the way it helps us save both time and money. Still, as in any setting, either can slip away all too easily.
As part of our recent lifestyle shift rooted in going deeper with both sustainability and saving money, we’ve hugely reduced our rate of dining out and getting to-go meals.
From brewing our morning our morning coffee here at home (rather than getting it to go in our S’well thermoses) to opting to take a walk on the beach rather than dine by it, we’re slowly saving our pennies and reclaiming lost minutes, which we’ve been using to read more, dance with West in our tiny living room (holiday songs remain his favorites, despite the fact that we’re nearly into Spring), and be even more engaged with the pups.
I’ve also been paying increased attention to our food waste.
We started composting last year, but there was still wasted food that headed straight into the compost.
I’m a failure with multitasking, and the number of times I’ve burned food, ruined pour-over coffee due to distraction, or stepped away foolishly leaving food within a particular beagle’s reach (AHEM, SOPHEE), is ridiculously high.
For me, slowing down means focusing on fewer things at a time, working to enjoy the activities as they flow.
(Having said that, we got a Ratio Six coffee maker so that I wouldn’t get distracted and walk away during the pour-over process. We picked the Six due to its unique design that is equally as beautiful from any angle (helpful in a small, awkward kitchen), its handblown glass carafe, its reusable metal Kone filter, and its smaller tabletop footprint.)
Adam has started making oat milk, green juice, vegetarian dog food*, kale chips, and more from home, and plans to tackle bread baking next.
On a related side note: We learned that there’s an oil, sweetener and herb refill/bulk store in LA called Wild Terra.
It can be tempting in a city like LA to go out for meals, since there’s such high quality food in such diverse formats. But so far it hasn’t felt like a sacrifice.
In fact, it feels like we’re getting back some precious slivers of time that we hadn’t realized we’d been missing.
Postscript: For those who are interested in our Ratio Six coffee maker and our low waste coffee routine (form sourcing the beans to cleaning our cups), hop on over to Ratio’s journal for a Q&A interview and additional images from the Cottage.
*Note: Making dog food at home is something we opted to do after consulting with our vet, and reading several books and websites. The meals have been tailored to our dogs, and are supplemented with extra nutrients in powder form. Consult with professionals before trying at home.
Above: My to-go coffee cup sleeve gifted to us years ago featuring custom art of StanLee. I use this most when taking mason jars on to the canoe or on walks with the pups.
In Anticipation of Spring
I almost never bring new decor into our home any more. While The Tiny Canal Cottage got its start in the home decor category, we’ve progressed beyond style alone into comfortable, sustainable small space living. Still, when I find a unique handmade or vintage item that I think will enhance our experience here at home while fitting within our budget, I do appreciate the occasional new housemate…
I recently picked 3 small additions from Connected Goods for the Cottage:
An item for the interior: For the main room, we introduced a handmade dried flower bowl, crafted in a small female-run studio. This bowl is a particularly practical replacement for a vessel of flowers, given the realities of living with a 3 year-old who is always knocking over water-filled vases of fresh blooms on our coffee table. Plus market flowers have gotten expensive (the bundle of wax flowers below cost more than I can normally spend), and often travel wastefully long distances to reach their final destinations. But dried stems are easy to come by and last for so much longer.
An item for the exterior: For the garden, I selected a handmade tea light chandelier in anticipation of the warmer evenings to come. The flickering candles cast enough glowing light that we don’t have to turn on the twinkle strands in order to illuminate the bistro table or outdoor sofa, allowing us to conserve some electricity.
An item for my everyday use on-the-go : For my routine treks around Venice and beyond, I picked a generously-sized cotton canvas utility tote, which can hold my work accessories, some toys/books for West, and all of our zero waste to-go necessities (like bottles, cups, produce bags, cloths and utensils).
These are tiny little spring touches that bring our home warmth and joy. (Additional photos below.) Remember: you don’t have to live large to live beautifully.
Trading 3-4 Hours of Sleep For 7-9 Hours
This is an out of the ordinary post for me, as it has nothing to do with small space living (though it is tied to sustainability). Instead, it’s about sleep— something with which I’ve struggled for years without a full understanding of why.
I’ll preface this entry with a spoiler alert: there are no easy takeaways contained below.
I didn’t pop a pill.
I didn’t find a magical meditation app.
I didn’t simply switch up my pillow.
I didn’t study sleep or sleep habits and make changes accordingly.
In fact, this was something that happened entirely unexpectedly. However, I can clearly identify why the shift occurred.
For context: I’ve not slept well for about 12+ years. While there were some outlier nights of either 2 hours or 8 hours of sleep, my average night was somewhere around 3-4 hours. I can fall asleep easily— that’s always been the case. (Shout out to my parents and big sister for carrying me up the stairs night after night, from early childhood well into my teenage years.) But since my late 20s I’ve not been able to stay asleep.
Prior to living in the cottage, I rented a tiny studio on the beach, and StanLee and I would get out of bed and jog whenever I couldn’t sleep. We logged about 9 miles a day, spread out over 3 outings over the day and night. It was a great way to prevent the lack of sleep from negatively impacting my energy levels or mindset.
When I was pregnant with West, I rested a lot. (I’ve never been a napper, but I certainly became one during my first and third trimesters.) Still, I never slept soundly through the nights, even as everyone kept warning me that I needed to sleep urgently, NOW NOW NOW, as I’d be unable to rest once the baby was arrived. (I never found that advice to be productive. In retrospect, it was downright obnoxious. I vow to never say such things to expecting parents.)
There are of course times in life when sleep becomes more of a challenge than others. Notable examples from my life include the 18 months of nursing, frequent bed-sharing, injury, sickness, phases of heightened stress (hello, tax season), etc. But my nightly habits for the past ~12 years pretty much made EVERY night feel like one of those notable times.
So what changed? Why did I abruptly go from getting 2-3 hours of light rest to 7-9 hours of sleep, with nearly half of that being blissfully deep sleep?
I’ll get to the point, I promise. But first, there were certainly gradual adjustments that helped when all added up, even if they weren’t what eventually tipped the scale.
Tackling Manageable Worries: I can remember spending dozens of nights awake wondering things like: I feel so tired— is it something serious? Should I go get tests done? What will we do when our Cobra health insurance runs out while I’m pregnant? Can I even get pregnant again? The planet is on fire and I feel like I’m not doing enough. What do I do? How much will I have to pay during tax season, and will we be able to afford it? Is there mold in our built-in headboard? Is the artificial grass filled with chemicals that are unhealthy for West’s skin and lungs? (That grass— which has since been replaced— was something we got in a hurry several years ago, which I fully regret.) All of these questions have answers, so I finally made a point to chip away at them every day until they were fully addressed. Converting those thoughts into actions made a HUGE difference in my buzzing brain. It might seem foolish to have waited so long, but money, logistics and time play heavy roles in tackling such topics, and I hadn’t prioritized them the way I should have. It was a mistake I’ll never make again.
Beverages: For about 6 months, I’ve been drinking water from a 32”oz mason jar, which I fill up about 4x per day. Oddly enough, I find this vessel effective due to how bulky and cumbersome it is— it simply cannot be overlooked or neglected. Because I drink so much throughout the day, I rarely have the desire to drink before bed, meaning I don’t wake up due to thirst or to visit the bathroom. As far as alcohol is concerned, I’ve been trying to get pregnant for so long that I rarely drink, or will have just 1 glass of beer/wine/champagne on occasion. As for caffeine, I love an oat milk coffee or latte, but I only drink one cup in the mornings. Limiting these beverages can only assist in achieving sounder sleep.
Bed: After reading about how manufactured fibers and treated textiles contain chemicals absorbed by our skin, I decided to invest in a quality mattress, bedding, pillows and pajamas. This is certainly an investment, so we approached it gradually over time, occasionally with the help of sponsors.
Relationships: I’m lucky to be surrounded by the most wonderful humans. They love. They care. The give. They show up. Still, there are some people who require vast amounts of energy on a normal basis, even if they don’t mean to. I made a point to be available to these individuals as much as possible without letting them inadvertently highjack my ability to focus on my family and my work. There will always be highs and lows in all of our lives, and I intend to be supportive during those moments, as well as the ones in between. But as far as the day-to-day is concerned, reasonable and loving boundaries are required. And they’ve helped… a lot.
Phone: We all know that it’s healthiest to put the phone away at night, curbing our urge to scroll, which can often result in buying things we don’t need while disrupting our minds and bodies during periods of time in which they should be relaxing and recovering. But it’s easier said than done for some of us. I always turned my phone on night mode, but between running my own small business and wanting to be available if a friend or family member was distressed or had an emergency, I would still check throughout the night to be sure that everything was fine. When I realized I was too tired to construct intelligible emails or even drive the car in case of an urgent matter, I knew that putting the phone in another room at night was necessary in order for me to be my healthiest self, and to best make myself of use for others.
While all of the above helped, something that happened to us towards the close of February was the turning point.
The Big Shift… Stress: Stress plays a prominent roll in about 75 - 90% of illnesses and doctor visits, and is considered one of the primary heath problems in America today. I knew this, and I knew that stress was absolutely keeping me awake at night. But I didn’t know how to shut it down. And while all the above steps helped decrease my stress for clear reasons, I was still tracking just 3-4 hours of sleep per night on my Ava bracelet, with only a sliver of that time being deep sleep.
Then, unexpectedly, my business experienced a major change from external factors. The system we’d had in place for years to help us earn income (via advertising) to supplement the bulk of our work (about 90% of which is unpaid), ceased to be beneficial for all parties involved, and came to an end. To put it in more traditional terms, Adam and I basically both suddenly lost our highest paying jobs at the same time.
I could’ve taken this the opposite way, becoming more stressed and even increasingly more sleepless. Especially because it happened shortly after I decided to shut down parts of my business that accepted small amounts of affiliate money from Amazon, as well as interior decor services that I found to be unnecessarily harmful to the planet.
But, down deep, I knew this bigger change needed to happen. Because I believe what I read in The Future We Choose: Surviving The Climate Crisis— we all have to do what is necessary to deal effectively with the climate crisis. And, for me, this new chapter in our lives in part of doing what is necessary— not necessarily what is lucrative.
I’m not patting my own back. Indigenous groups and mindful individuals and communities around the world have managed to be responsible stewards of the planet while providing enough for their families since day one. My actions within this culture of consumption got us here in the first place. It’s time I work harder to correct the the damage done while I was busy being complicit in it.
This is just another step towards (re)training myself and acquiring new skills and habits to help us reduce our negative footprint, increase our positive footprint, and to then share our experiences with our readers. And while it’s absolutely terrifying to suffer a huge slide in income as both a business and a family, I believe that it’s infinitely more important to leave behind an inhabitable earth for our children than it is to leave behind mounds of flashy stuff they don’t need.
I’ll keep creating, and if if people continue to deem it worthwhile hopefully the money will follow. This time around, I’ll be the one setting my company’s goals. This investment in myself has dissolved my stress to a degree I would’ve never believed possible just a few short weeks ago.
It is not the easy thing, but it is — beyond a doubt — the right thing. And in the end, THAT is what helps me sleep at night.
The Future We Choose - Regenerative Small Space Living
I recently finished reading, The Future We Choose: Surviving the Climate Crisis, which is a cautionary but inspiringly optimistic book about the future of humanity in this crucial time for our planet. Written by Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac (lead negotiators for the United Nations during the Paris Agreement), this incredible book offers two scenarios for the near future: one in which we fail to meet the goals set forth by the Agreement, and another in which governments, corporations and individuals confront the climate crisis head-on and create a carbon-neutral and regenerative world.
Needless to say, I want to live in the scenario in which humanity and wildlife survive and thrive. But hope is not enough— action is required across all levels. It might not seem like there’s much we can do on a household basis, but Figueres and Rivett-Carnac provide a very clear and compelling argument for why every individual’s actions matter in this moment, and what our culture can do to enact immediate change.
My family and business are adjusting our ways accordingly.
I will continue to center my business upon sharing stories and solutions pertaining to living comfortably and contentedly in small spaces. After all, as humanity adapts to the necessary changes required to combat the climate crisis, we will need to learn how to better share, and live with less stuff (yet with no less abundance). Additionally, Adam and I are also diving headlong into learning about regenerative gardening and practices for small urban spaces.
We want to be more than just a resource for comfortable and adaptable small space living. We’re also striving to be a resource for those who are interested in self-sufficient and restorative small space living, requiring less of the Earth, while also giving back to it.
According to The Future We Choose, we must create a greener planet in every space possible. Cities can become exceptional, with more trees, more parks for our children and wildlife, fewer cars, and plenty of urban agriculture.
“Every vacant lot, every grimy unused alley, has been repurposed and turned into a shady grove. Every rooftop has been converted to either a vegetable or floral garden. Windowless buildings that were once scrawled with graffiti are instead carpeted with verdant vines… Things that used to be done individually are now done communally— growing vegetables, capturing rainwater, and composting… In community gardens, on rooftops, at schools, and even hanging from vertical gardens on balconies, food sometimes seems to be growing everywhere.”
Adam and I will share what we learn as we go. We’re starting with our own research online and at our local libraries, and taking courses via Kiss The Ground. We’ll listen to folks who’ve had their hands in the regenerative practices for years (such as our friends at Apricot Lane Farms). We’ll also work towards making our home more efficient via renewable energy whenever possible within our financial means.
And we will, of course, continue to bike over drive, refuse single-use plastics, be mindful of our clothing and food, cut back drastically on unnecessary air travel, use our voices as citizens and consumers, vote at the ballot box, and vote with/without our hard-earned dollars.
Let’s see what folks in small urban spaces such as ours can do to take less, give more, and create the future we choose.
* The Future We Choose: Surviving the Climate Crisis, by Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac
Nurturing a Sense of Wonder in a Tiny Garden
I had a challenging week. Several issues were chipping away at me, and I was sleeping even worse than normal (which is saying something, as I’m always a lousy sleeper).
In a small space, it’s arguably easier to pick up on the mood shifts of your family members due to proximity and the level of familiarity that comes with such closeness. And while I always want to be honest with my 3 year old and nurture his sense of empathy, I certainly don’t want him to be negatively impacted by the way I operate when I’m feeling off.
In order to redirect the focus away from my issues and towards something joyful, I decided to nurture West’s sense of wonder with a lil’ addition to our tiny garden.
I’d recently discovered the sweetest little handmade fairy door and window on Etsy (via a maker/vendor who has sadly since closed up her shop— hopefully only temporarily). While West was occupied, I installed the pieces in the tree just beyond our front stoop, and added a miniature, battery-operated tea light into the recess of the window.
When West stepped outside and saw the flickering light through the window and the minuscule door, he was enthralled. (Kids do endless adorable things, but West’s reaction to learning that a Fairy family had moved into our garden was particularly memorable…)
He knocked. He whispered. He wondered about them aloud and searched the sky and the garden for more signs of their presence.
He even asked to further decorate their window by adding some colorful stones to its mossy top, and by using one of the bowls he made in a ceramic workshop as a “fairy pool.”
West was so fascinated that he asked if we could make more doors and windows. I’m not much of a crafter— I’m only mildly comfortable with DIY-lite activities. (Having written that, I’m quite proud that in the past week I made the sandals I’m wearing in these photos, and that I also patched West’s pants with some cheerful floral fabric.)
But we pulled some twigs, vines and scraps from around the yard, and visited our friends at Big Red Sun to grab some moss, acorns and a book entitled Fairy Houses.
We also scrounged up two balsa wood boxes we’d been using as drawer organizers, which provide the perfect framework for additional windows.
We haven’t finished creating our pieces yet (crafting has about a 15 minute life-span right now).
But I expect that a bit of these natural materials coupled with some glue (and patience) will be enough to produce a magical addition for the fairy family’s home, even if our versions aren’t quite as beautiful as the ones on Etsy.
The most wondrous thing of all was that sharing this experience and activity with my child not only kept him from picking up on my mood shift, but it also snapped me out of my dark cloud. The week could’ve spiraled into something much more bleak, but instead it ended with such huge happiness and hope.
In their hunt for a new home, I’m so glad the fairies picked the cottage.
Some Items You Can Probably Go Without (Part 14)
In recent years, the average size of the American single-family home has grown to over 2,600 square feet. As I walk around our neighborhood and see the smaller, still livable, single-story bungalows being torn down and replaced with zero-lot-line behemoths, I can’t help but wonder why… (For investment purposes? And if so, to what end, ultimately?)
Not only are we living in an unprecedented time during which we have to do everything necessary to curb our emissions and consumption to combat the climate crisis, but we are also living in a technological era in which entire collections of goods that once lived in our homes are now contained within our smart devices.
If we’re spending more time absorbed in our phones and less time interacting with the tangible, and if items such as movies, music collections, reference guides, books, photo albums, and more all live digitally, why do our homes need to further expand? And expand in ways that are often highly environmentally burdensome?
Of course it's important to note that a bigger house doesn't necessarily mean more stuff, and that I am indeed excited about green construction in the future. Homes that operate with renewable energy, “smart” features that keep energy down and efficiency high, and self-sustaining systems that better manage waste while generating power and resources are possibilities on the horizon. I’m not suggesting that tiny houses/apartments are “the” answer or suitable for everyone.
Our child is only 3, and as I type this post, he is the only child in our household. I have yet to live this tiny life as a parent of a pre-teen/teen or of multiple children. One day, one way or another, my family's needs and tastes will change, and I have no idea what’s next for us.
But as we adapt to the future, I plan to keep in mind that leaving behind a sprawling home filled with stuff for my kid is not my goal, whereas leaving behind a healthy Earth for his entire generation is.
With that, here are some home / kitchen items you can probably go without, whether you live in a big house or a small one. (View all the entries in this series here.)
Bathtub Caddy, Shower Novelty Stands/Holders
If you regularly relax in the tub with a book and some tea or wine and that’s your form of self care, then good for you— keep it going. But if you only take a bath every now and then (hooray for conserving water!), perhaps consider skipping the luxury bathtub caddy and novelty suction cup drink holders. A little table or stool pulled up next to your tub can work juuuuust fine.
Tea Bag Coasters, Holders, etc.
A tea bag can survive on a plate or saucer and certainly doesn’t need it’s own dedicated accessory, such as those over-the-rim slings or ramekin-style holders. Better yet, skip the tea bags altogether and opt for looseleaf to reduce waste and avoid the microplastics and nanoplastics that can be released into your mug from the bags.
Encyclopedias, Translator Guides, Dictionaries
While I love a good wall of books in a home or office, I have to admit— most of them aren’t necessary. (Like I’ve said before, I still prefer to read on paper, but that doesn’t mean I need to buy or hold on to every title like a beautifully bound trophy.) Thanks to libraries and digital resources, perhaps we can stop acquiring brand new volumes of encyclopedias, dictionaries, translator guides, and so forth.
Dish Drying Rack
A simple drying mat (or even a towel) or an over-the-sink roll-up rack can function just as well without eating up inches.
Nail polish + lipstick holders
As with any dedicated organizer, these sorts of things (usually made of acrylic) frustrate me. Due to their specific dimensions and design, they basically serve only ONE (unnecessary) function only, rendering them useless for anything else if your beauty needs, tastes or habits change. It’s likely that numerous items already available within your home can hold these products for you— no new purchase required.
VINTAGE AND HANDMADE HOMEWARES FOR SMALL SPACES (ROUNDUP 3)
I flat out don’t like shopping. (There. I said it.) However, I do find myself looking for handmade or vintage items online or in our local thrift stores when we need a particular something-or-another for the Cottage, and that’s something I rather enjoy. I don't just browse aimlessly or on impulse. When I shop, I’m on a specific mission. For me, the key is to search for the general function I need an item to serve, rather than search by a item’s dedicated name directly.
For example, when I need linens that can serve as towels, tablecloths, couch covers, and shoulder wraps, I just search for "linen throw" and explore the results from there, selecting a piece that serve multiple functions while appealing to my aesthetic. By searching for items via detail and function descriptors, I discover creative and unique homewares that serve the purposes my family needs, in formats I might not have previously considered. This is one of the traits that makes our lil' home so personal and special to us.
Many people have told me that they don’t know “how” to shop vintage or handmade on sites such as Etsy. As such, I’m going to start doing a weekly roundup of beautiful and functional one-of-a-kind vintage or handmade items I’ve found in passing that I like but won’t buy because we already have something similar. My hope is that these roundups help some readers find homewares made by independent artisans or from second-hand curators who have salvaged incredible pieces that were likely doomed for landfills, and are redirecting them for a new life.
When purchasing a piece, you can further cut back on the associated carbon footprint by messaging the vendor to assure them you’re fine with repurposed packaging and don’t need any flair. I’ve chosen to use Etsy for these roundups, as it’s the first major online shopping destination to offset 100% of carbon emissions from shipping.
UNIQUE STORAGE
UNIQUE FURNISHINGS
FOR THE KIDS
HOME ACCESSORIES
WALL DECOR
CLOTHING
New Podcast Interview Live
I was delighted to be a recent guest on the “What We Said” podcast, and the episode was released today: listen here.
We discussed tiny living and sustainability (and actionable tips for navigating both), as well as family life in under 400 sqft.
Thanks for having me on your show, Jaci and Chelsey!
Video: New "About Us" Video
I uploaded a new 2-minute "About Us" video here on the site, briefly recapping our journey since we moved into the Cottage, and explaining why we share what share.
As always, thank you for being here and experiencing life in under 400 sqft with us.
