My own tiny home

I frequent a few blogs and www.tinyhouseblog.com is one of them. Whenever I look at these tiny homes I admire the simplicity that comes with living this way and I imagine these people's lives being a lot richer with things they truly love.

My dad and I were talking about little cabins. He told me all about the old one person logging cabins his father and brothers made. He said 'that's all I need!' and that he'd be 'perfectly happy' in one. He also added 'shit, you could build one in a day!'. My dad was born in 1944. He was the youngest of 4 brothers. He told me about having just a few toys. A wagon, cap gun, a handmade jumprope and a couple of wooden cars. They had large nails on the wall to hang their few outfits, all of which 'were the same'. His mom would bake her own bread, can salmon, deer meet and fruits and vegetables from their garden. She would bake cookies with egg whites, sugar and vanilla.

Talking with my dad just further made me realize what an abundance of stuff we actually have. We have everything we actually need to survive. Everything we have is convenient. We can shower and have hot water within a minute. We have heat at our fingertips. We have entertainment in a box. We have food already prepared in cans. And while I don't want to go back to 1944 and live that life, I do want to really think about where the things I use come from. Whether it be a factory, a local farm, etc., I at least need to think when I open my fridge how amazing it is to just have cold food in front of me. Cold food that I didn't have to pick, or bottle, or figure out how to preserve. We are lucky!

When I see my dad's work ethic, his likes and dislikes, his needs and the way he lives, its inspiring.

My point is, I have my own tiny home -- literally. It is so small, with 2 rooms being about 10x10, the front room about 18x15 and the kitchen being about 9x8. I have what I want right in front of me...under me! I have misused my space. I have stuffed it full of the unnecessary and overwhelmed my life with convenience, and in the processed moved in the opposite direction of happiness.

In closing, a quote from my dad.

"You know how many dishes I have? 1 plate. 1 fork. 1 cup and a spoon to stir my coffee with. That's all I need".

My dad, a 67 year old ex-logger with simple wishes for the summer, a garden and a salt shaker. He has a lot wrong, but he sure has life right in some very important ways.

Out with the old, out with the new?

Whenever I have relationship issues I find myself reevaluating other aspects of my life.

Well, this relationship 'issue' was a doozy..so in keeping with my reevaluation period and based on the severity of the situation, I've decided to take things to a new level and blog about it!

Typically I ask myself the following questions:

-What do I need?
-What do I want?

Today I added:

-What do I deserve?

It's interesting to see the correlation between your emotional state and your physical one. There's no denying that when I'm unhappy, stressed, hurt or frustrated that my surroundings show it.

I'm not trying to change that part of myself necessarily, yet, but I am trying to make my life easier when stressful times come up.

There are some areas of my home that are easier to tackle. Over the years I've gotten better about deciding to get rid of things like old conditioner bottles and almost-empty things in the bathroom. I also (and very proudly, I must admit), do not have a junk drawer or any catch all spaces.

I struggle a lot with how much of something I need. Will I regret throwing or giving it away? The worst of it is definitely the feeling of 'if I were more productive in a day I would use this', 'if I were a better mom I'd use this', 'if I got up earlier I could make time for this' and of course 'if I was thinner I could use this'.

My home still reminds me daily of the person I would like to be, or the person I think I should be. It's just not realistic. I'm not, currently, that person. I'm very much a single, tired, 14 week pregnant mother of 2.

My focus is now convenience and necessity.

What do I need everyday? I'm talking basic, basic needs. Diapers, wipes, TV remotes, olive oil, a pan, plates, shampoo, toilet paper, garbage bags, dish soap, etc.
Out of that, how many pans is logical to keep? How many plates do I need for 1 adult and two children?

What are the things that are unnecessary in my home? Pictures on walls, DVDs, knick-knacks, toys, books, etc. Out of those items, what is important enough to keep? Do I really watch all the DVDs? Do I look at and enjoy the knick-knacks? Can the kids really enjoy all their toys and books with so many?

What do I deserve?
I deserve items to pamper myself. While unnecessary, things like bubble bath, candles, perfume, hair products and other beauty products are something I should find a more permanent place in my home for (within reason of course), because such items will add to my quality of life, whereas knick-knacks take my time and energy (having to clean them, be careful of them, find places for them).

What in my home is overshadowed by having too many of the same item?
Right on back to knick-knacks. There are a few things I love and a ton of things I like. The things I love are drowned out by all of the things I just like. I should find a few special places for a few special things. I would enjoy the things left more, it would create more peaceful space and I would stop resenting things simply for being there and in my way. Clothes are a big one. I hate going into my closet and seeing a billion things I can't wear. I need to be less idealistic and more realistic in my choices when deciding these things.

My goal is really to have a nearly empty house with only items I love or need. And while that has always been a goal of mine, acheiving it has been slow going.

I'm interested in reading about people's experiences and any ideas on how to accomplish such a large project