I've been living in a small house with my family for over three years now. I was quite apprehensive about how living in a smaller home would work for us, but I can say now that downsizing was the right choice. Don’t get me wrong, living in a small house with a family has not been easy all of the time. But, I realized just how monumentally my perspective has shifted after watching a home show on HGTV recently. The new homeowner was super excited to be moving into her enormous house Continue Reading...

I remember searching for downsizing tips before we moved to a small home. I was completely overwhelmed with decluttering and the idea that I was somehow demeaning myself because I was moving to a smaller space - crazy, right? Well, maybe not. If you have considered downsizing your home the idea of getting rid of most of your clutter and prioritising what is important to you can be overwhelming. In fact, it can put you off the idea completely. But it doesn’t have to be so hard. 8 Continue Reading...

Four years ago, my husband and I were living in a large home with loads of stuff all around us. We had a toddler, a low income and a large mortgage payment (relative to the income, anyways). Our house was damaged in an earthquake and we were unable to renovate it until we had a clear idea of what our insurance company intended to do with our home. There was a high chance they would demolish it, in which case any money spent on renovations or improvements would be money down the drain. So Continue Reading...

If you have kids you know that in a short time your child's toy box can be overflowing with toys. Some toys get played with once or twice and just sit and collect dust on the shelf. Giving non-toy gifts is a great way to minimize the toys and perhaps inspire a new hobby or interest in your child.  Non-toy gift ideas don't have to be boring. Many of the options below will be highly enjoyable for your child! Perhaps even more so than a single-purpose toy. Just skim through the list and see what Continue Reading...

The zero waste movement is gaining momentum. And rightfully, so. Our planet is in trouble, and with major world leaders pulling out of climate accords, it's easy to feel helpless. Fear not, you can make a difference. After reading , I was inspired to reduce waste in my home. I would love to be completely zero waste, but I realize that will take time to get there, so for now, I'm reducing what I can. It starts with becoming more intentional. By thinking consciously about what you need to Continue Reading...