Lately

I feel like I'm constantly trying to get my sh*t together (pardon my French). But I guess that's how life goes. Always, knocking down the old to build the new and improved. Always trying to make things better, and like this guy says "exploiting chaos" to make something progressive and remarkable but tangible and manageable. That's a good thing, right? But it's a lot easier said than done. I guess that's why so many people fail when it comes to business. I came across this speech that was just speaking to me. It came at the perfect time, as I'm building my business (it seems I'm always doing that) and figuring out how it fits into this whole scheme that is my life. I hope you get something out of it too, I think he's got some wonderful ideas:  This is our first week back from Spring Break. And by Spring Break, I mean Eliza's Spring Break. Brandon and I still had to work during the week but that didn't stop us from enjoying a few extra activities to celebrate. The first weekend, we went to one of the best (and free!) music festivals in Houston. It was a very community centered gathering and I loved every bit of it. There are some really beautiful people in Houston and these events are a great reminder of that. I also got to participate in a market that was pretty successful so two thumbs up for that weekend!
And then this past weekend I had been thinking about going to Austin/San Marcos for SXSW and a friend's birthday and it took me until the very last minute to decide to go for it! And it was so funny, everything just kept working out almost perfectly. The first night, we arrived, somehow found a great parking spot downtown and managed to get into (for free!) a Chance The Rapper show. And I swear, not even a few days before, I had seen a friend's video on Instagram of a Chance show he saw and my thoughts were, "Oh man, I missed Chance The Rapper. What a bummer, I would have loved to see him". And what do you know! The next day, we met up with a few friends and ate a delicious vegan lunch at a place I can't remember the name of now. I posted it on Instagram and another friend contacted me and told me about another free show of a band that I love, OM. We weren't sure we were going to stay until they played because we were due in San Marcos but we did and I ended up getting to the very front, and seriously enjoyed their show. I even saw a guy get punched in the face for almost lighting the stage on fire! Score! So then we made our way to San Marcos, met up with another friend I wanted to see and ate some vegan (I think?) chinese food. It was totally fattening but just what I needed to carry me through the next 24 hours. We went to my friend's birthday party and a few hours in, ran into anoooother friend I had kind of hoped to see but hadn't contacted. So many happy accidents! I should probably not talk about the rest of the night/morning/day (not blog appropriate) but it was beautiful and crazy and perfect. I didn't think I was going to make it home the next day because I had not slept a wink that night but we did. And it took me about 3 days to recover/fix my sleeping schedule! Hahah, I guess I don't bounce back quite as quick as I used to any more. 
Both of them were such great weekends. I am so grateful for everything that just.... happened. It was surprisingly unsurprising if that makes sense? Like I was kind of taken aback but at the same time it was like, of course. Of course all of that happened. It was just the way things were meant to be. I was merely there for the ride. To enjoy and experience. 
I guess that's the way I've been looking at life lately. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in my emotions. (Emotions are insanity. Seriously.) But then I take a step back and just appreciate the beauty of it all, all of my experiences, the craziness that is life. I mean, I chose this after all. I'd rather feel everything than nothing. I'd rather be passionate than empty. I would rather live and love fully, with my heart, than force myself to live a life devoid of meaning or joy or hope. And no matter how much I wish I wasn't feeling what I'm feeling, or that I was doing or being something else, this is where I need to be right now. This is exactly what I'm supposed to be doing. Or feeling. Or being. And that is perfection in itself. Because I can never be anything other than myself. In this moment, everything is exactly where it should be and I guess my struggle is accepting that. I am always striving to improve myself and make my life better. And while I try to be grateful and appreciate where I'm at, I think the missing piece all along was to accept it. I need to accept that it's ok to be where I am while I dream of the future. I can't just keep walking (or running? I think I run) forward without paying attention to where I am, I'll trip and fall on my face or run straight into something without warning! And I've definitely done those a few times. I have been fighting a lot of things in my life lately, but I think the key is just to let them be what they are. And be completely and totally ok with that. Because that's the only way I can move forward from here. That's the only way to truly move on. 
These past two weeks, the universe has been very kind to me. And I appreciate it massively. It's made me realize that my life is so full. Even when I can break it down and obsess over the things that could still use improving, my life is beautiful as it is right now. And I better enjoy it before it's gone, because I will never been here again. I keep hearing about, enjoying the journey, but I never really got it until now. If you don't enjoy the journey, you're just going to be miserable and in the end, the goal probably won't make you happy anyways because you'll always have your sights set on improving, you will never be good enough. But you are good enough. I am good enough! 
Well..... I had intended on keeping that short. But I always have too much to say! AND THAT'S OK. 
But in all seriousness, I have a few more beautiful articles that have been enlightening to read. Annnnnnnd here they are:  > What Self-Loving People Do Differently  > What The Divine Feminine Means To Me (this is everything) 
Also, a quote that I read somewhere that struck me:  Dance with the creator.
And some daily affirmations that seem appropriate right now: 
> I am willing to set myself free.  > I am in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing.  > It’s about being spectacular by just being who you are.  > I am not failing. I am getting stronger. I am growing. (from a Champion Rock Climber)

Oh and one more video: The Art of Being You 

Monday Pick Me Ups

I like to pin quotes and inspiring words on pinterest. Because most of the time, they're exactly what I need to hear. Kind of like a fortune but you don't have to eat a crappy cookie and you can get one... or two... or three every day! So I'm here on this dreary, wet Monday to share some things I needed to hear today. I couldn't think of a better way to start off my week.  source.  source.  source.  source.  source.  source.  source.  source. source.  source.  source.  source.  source.  source.  source.  source. 

A Few Things: My Grandpa

My Grandpa passed away last Monday. For those that didn't know, he had been suffering with Alzheimer's for quite a long time. Luckily we went to visit him for Christmas and got to spend some time with him but even then, he was not doing so well. Within the last week of his life he had come down with a cold and his body was starting to shut down on him. I had just talked to my mom about letting go, I knew it was only a matter of time before he couldn't hold on any longer and last Monday was that day. 
Part of me is relieved that he doesn't have to suffer any more. I know it couldn't have been easy to deal with the condition he was in. It makes me feel slightly better knowing that he must be in a better place but it doesn't make it suck any less.  He was my Grandpa. He was a wonderful Grandpa, the best. He was important to me, I respected him so much and I loved him a lot. I was actually named after him and brought his first grandchild into the world, who brought an immeasurable amount of joy to his last few years of life. I guess the simpleness of interacting with a child comes easy when you're brain isn't capable of much else. Even when he couldn't carry on conversations anymore, he always had the biggest smile when Eliza came around and had no problem entertaining her (or being entertained I suppose). I'm so glad that Eliza got a chance to know him before he left us, I just hope that she remembers him as fondly as I do.
I think the hardest part is imagining that I will never see him again, that he has left this world, and that I no longer have a grandpa here. There's so much I will miss about him even though I know he's better off now. 
He was such a great man in so many ways, those who knew him could attest to that. I could go on and on about how much he brought to this world but I'll save that for another time. He had such a kind and loving soul and had the biggest heart of anyone I knew. You can actually read an article about him here and learn of some of his accomplishments. I can only hope that I can live up to the legacy he left behind, make my mark on the world and somehow make it a better place. 
I'm trying really hard to be positive about it all but it still hurts, you know? Like a lot. But it's been a great experience, very humbling and inspiring to look back on his life and try to celebrate it rather than just mourn over him. I spent the last weekend in New Orleans with my family and I have never felt so close to all of them than I do now. I don't know what it is about grieving that makes you feel more connected to others. Like somehow people are more open and loving and forgiving and accepting. There was a lot of drama involved as everyone's emotions were all over the place, trying to prepare for the funeral, but if anything, I think it really brought us together. Physically, because it isn't often that our huge family manages to be in one place at the same time but also emotionally. It was overall a pretty good, deeply fulfilling weekend. 
Death is such a strange thing though. It's hard to explain why exactly I'm sad because even though he is "dead", I don't truly believe or feel that he is gone. I can still feel his loving presence when I want to, when I focus hard enough. I can still feel him in my heart when I beckon him. I know he is there... (or here?) when I need him, I can feel his spirit all around me. It can be very sudden and overwhelming. And sometimes, it brings tears to my eyes but they're not tears of sadness. They're intensely happy and whole and filled with so much gratitude. 
I am not religious but consider myself pretty spiritual, following my own path of learning and understanding. There are still a lot of things I can't yet comprehend but death is always such a tremendous learning experience for me. It's always a time of introspection and evaluation for me, to make sure I'm living my life true to my self and creating an existence that I love and wholeheartedly believe in. 
Among the many things my Grandpa was, I think what I took away most from him was his faith and his thoughtfulness. He displayed them in every aspect of his life from his work, to his family, to his dedication to his church. He was an extremely logical man but lead his life with his heart. His passion and commitment were evident in all areas of his life and I like to think that in that way, I am a lot like him. He was courageous and frugal and always had the best intentions. He was the best role model anyone could ever ask for. And even though he is no longer "with us", I will continue to learn from his adventures and forge a life that I know will make him proud. 
RIP Grandpa, I will love you always. 

Easy // Vegan // Enchilada Spaghetti

A heaping bowl (or two) of corn pasta is one of my favorite raw till 4 dinner meals! But the typical, Italian spaghetti sauce gets old after a while and personally, I like my meal with a little spice added to it. I originally found this idea last year but have made some adjustments to account for my vegan-ness and my own favorite, homemade enchilada sauce. If you like enchiladas, this is definitely for you. I could seriously eat this every night of the week. Unfortunately, Brandon and Eliza don't share my enthusiasm love for chili powder so I don't. But that is just how good I think this is. You should definitely try it!   Ingredients:  15 oz can tomato sauce (watch the salt content!) 1/2 can of water (also helps to get out extra sauce) 3-5 tbsp chili powder (I  like mine extra chili-y) 1 tsp cumin  1 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp oregano  1 tsp cocoa powder  1/4-1 tsp cayenne pepper 1 tsp salt  16 oz. gluten free pasta (I do corn, organic and non-gmo) 
Optional:  Vegan cheese to sprinkle on top (I actually preferred mine without) Sauteed veggies, if you really feel like going all out, such as an onion, bell pepper, a few cups of spinach, or a few cloves of garlic  1. Cook pasta. If you don't know how, follow ingredients on package.  2. Meanwhile, mix tomato sauce and spices together in saucepan. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5-10 minutes. Remove from heat.  3. Enjoy! 
Inspiration:Chicken Enchilada Spaghetti Quick Veggie Enchiladas

BBG: Week 2 // 3 // 4 // 5

source.
I've made it through 5 weeks of this workout guide! Woohoo! I don't know if I'll show my result pictures here yet (eeeesh) but I wanted to share what my weeks look like, working out wise. I'm still getting the hang of making extra time and fitting it all into my schedule so it's taken a little bit of experimenting and adjustment. But I'm constantly improving and am so proud of myself for taking care of my body and working towards something I think is so important. I'm not perfect, as you'll see but all of my effort and what I have accomplished is really paying off! 
For those that don't know, your week on this guide consists of 3 major workouts: Legs & Cardio, Arms & Abs, and the Whole Body Workout. Then you have 3 low intensity (LISS) workouts such as walking, jogging, hiking, or biking, that you fit in in between. And then she suggests that you fit in one rehab session a week which is basically just extra stretching (I do yoga). There are a number of ways you can structure your workout schedule to fit into your week but the easiest way is to just stick to what she's laid out. Lately though I've been mixing it up a little to squeeze it all in and found that it's best for me to switch around the major workouts depending on how my body feels (ie how sore I am). Now that I'm more accustomed to how they work, I feel comfortable doing that and being able to fit it all in according to what my body needs. Plus it allows me to be flexible and go to the gym to workout with my brother whenever he has the time. 
So anyways, here's what my last 4 weeks have looked like in the fitness department. 
WEEK 2: 
Tuesday (Leg day) // Well I skipped Monday. Obviously. I did my leg day today though, IT WAS KILLER. I think I was able to do the first round of workouts twice in each circuit but man, that second one was tough. I did mayyybe 1 1/2 before my legs were just giving out on me each time. Also, I took my progress pictures today and not much of a difference. Although I'm pretty sure my crappy eating over the weekend has something to do with that. I think I've gained a little more muscle definition but it's kind of hard to see behind the bloating. Eek! 
Wednesday // My week is just all fudged up. The weather is crappy and I got caught up doing lots of thingssss so no LISS today. But I plan on making it up... eventually. Also, pretty sore, mainly in my buns! 
Thursday (Arms and Abs) //  Pretty sore, probably because I didn't get my LISS in yesterday. But the bloating from the weekend is going down and I'm starting to see a definite definition in my obliques. Super cool! This workout was pretty rough. I did it after lunch and was on the verge of puking during the second half. Plus it was just hard and I ended up having to take mini breaks just to be able to go on any further. And not puke. Yikes. But I'm done and it feels good! To be done that is. 
Friday // Of course, it rained again and I lost ALL motivation to do my LISS. When will it stop?! 
Saturday // I got very little sleep and spent the morning at a meeting. By the time we got home, we hopped straight in bed and watched movies all day. So no working out for me. 
Sunday (LISS) // After I dragged myself out of bed, I went on a hike in the woods with the family. 

WEEK 3: 
Monday (Leg day) // Spent half of my day, checking off things on my to do list, avoiding this workout! The first round seemed easier (still hard) but I definitely feel stronger. I got through the first half no problem and was feeling it the second time around for sure. But it feels good to get it done! Used my 10 lb medicine ball and 5/10 lb weights (switched off depending on how out of breath I was). Now to stretch! 
Tuesday (LISS) // Went on my first bike ride in almost 6 months! Rode about 12 miles in 45-50 minutes. It was nice, totally don't enjoy inhaling car fumes but it was nice to get back on my bike. Next time, I'll try some trails though. 
Wednesday // Skipped because I ended up getting caught up with work, I was on a roll! 
Thursday (Arms and Abs) // Went super hard today, got my workout done plus some! But I hadn't eaten much before hand (it was already 2) and did not feel so great afterwards. Woops 
Friday // Skipped because I got caught up working again. Also, I was planning on going dancing but it didn't happen. I did do a lot of walking around town though? 
Saturday (LISS) // Did a lot of walking and going up stairs and "cheer-leading" and intercepting rugby balls .... That counts right? It was a pretty active day. But no intense workouts. 
Sunday (LISS) // Went on a 9 mile, 1 hour long bike ride hauling Eliza and groceries. It was so pretty outside.
RESULTS:  -ABS: Definitely noticing some definition in my abs, my little size pack is starting to show!! It's weird though because I thought I'd lose some fat beforehand but I guess the muscle will burn more fat in the long run? Either way, I see some definite progress. Although now that you can see my ab muscles, it has become noticeable that they are totally uneven. I'll have to work on that. 
-ARMS: Also, I have a bump in my arm! Before, I could see the muscle becoming more defined but only on the sides. However,  now it's actually grown into a bump on top!! Prettttttty excited about that. I guess all my girly pushups are starting to pay off! 
-Other than that, I feel stronger in the workouts and have lost some roundness in my belly/bloating but that's it so far. Only week 3 though, 9 more to go!! 

WEEK 4: 
Monday //  Nothing. 
Tuesday (Whole Body) // Did a full body workout, trying to play catch up 
Wednesday (LISS and Abs)  // Super intense bike ride, I was planning on doing legs but that didn't happen. My legs were too sore! I also did a circuit of ab work later that night, because I had too much energy to go to sleep. It was nice. 
Thursday (Arms and Abs) // Arms and abs, it was crappy out so I didn't get in a LISS. Halfway through my workout, I didn't think I'd be able to make it all the way to the end but I just took it one workout at a time and it was over before I knew it! Feels good, it was rough though fa sho. 
Friday // NADA, took a rest day because I was not feeling so great (just exhausted in every way) 
Saturday // Nothing, worked all day 
Sunday (LISS and Leg Day) // Did a hike with friends for my LISS. Also completed week 4, leg day! Was great. 
RESULTS:  -ABS: Definitely more definition in my abs, haven't lost any extra fat yet though, I really need to work on my LISS. Oh and evening out my left and right abs (it's pretty noticeable). 
-LEGS: Really appreciating my leg muscles and butt this week. 
-Feeling stronger for sure, I can do girly pushups like a pro! Haven't tried a real one yet, a little scared to *eek*! This week is the week before my period so I was feeling off physically with bloating and exhaustion and just all around yuckiness so no real progress picture as I was feeling gross and unmotivated. But 8 more weeks to go! I'm 1/3 of the way done! 
WEEK 5:  Catch up week! 
Monday (Back and Bis) //  Back, bis and abs with my bro at the gym plus a little cardio for warmup
Tuesday (LISS, Chest and Tris) // Went on a lovely bike ride to the store. About 40 minutes split in two. Super sore and tired today. Had to carry a bunch of stuff on the way home and it wore me out! Did chest and tris with my brother and a friend. It was super intense. Starting to not feel so great now, my sinuses are acting up. 
Wednesday (LISS) // Went on a hike with mom and Eliza for an hour or two. Kind of taking it easy. I don't feel too great, my whole body aches from working out a lot and starting to get sick.
Thursday // Ended up working till 2 in the morning! So no working out for me. 
Friday (LISS and Full Body ) // 37 minute bike ride to Eliza's school to drop off a Valentine's present for her teacher. Man, I didn't get much sleep last night. My body feels weak but I'm determined to stay on schedule and catch up with my work outs this week! Bring it on! Later that night, I also did week 4's full body workout. I did the both circuits once, added in an ab circuit, and then did another circuit with the workouts of both circuits (done once each). It was exhausting but feelin' good!  Saturday (LISS)//  Did soooo much dancing. 
Sunday (Legs, Abs, and Rehab) // Went to the gym with my brother, did legs, plus abs, and some rehab/yoga after. 
RESULTS: 
-I weigh about 10 pounds more than when I started (all about those gains baby!). 
-BACK: Definitely more muscular, my butt is lookin goood! My booty is only going up and out, in a good way though! My back curve is looking pretty, my posture is improving with my stronger core.
-LEGS: Getting a wee bit stronger and more toned. Thighs are slimming down in the middle (!!). I'm going to have to get bigger bottoms to fit my butt! My legs are definitely tightening up, with noticeable definition in my leg muscles. Cellulite is still there but as I continue to shed fat, I think it'll go away.
- ABS: Mored definition compared to first week, slimming down a bit on the sides. A little bit less belly fat, pooch is going down. My hip bone is becoming a bit more prominent which is the only way to tell I'm losing any of that muffin top. Might be a little bloated in this week's pictures but definitely overall slimming action happening in the tummy region. 
-ARMS: I got a bump in my arm! I got a bump in my arm!! I'm really, surprisingly proud of my arm strength improvements. 
-My overall impression is that this past month has been all about gaining muscle. I'm assuming (hoping) that after this, I will start leaning up a bit more. I'll be able to work out harder, my muscles will be able to burn more fat, and my body will be more acclimated to this new routine. My metabolism will pick up even more, I just have to make sure to feed it correctly and the fat will just start melting off. I'm pretty excited about the next 7 weeks! Here we gooo! 

Goals for the next few weeks:
-Make sure to fit in ALL of my workouts PLUS my LISS's.  -Keep up the eating well, don't let the weekends get me down.  -Start keeping record of what I can lift to notice any improvements, and possibly body measurements, that would be interesting.   

I'm pretty happy with how I feel so far, almost halfway through my workout guide. I really really love the guide because it keeps me on track with working out through the weeks. It kind of keeps me accountable for my fitness which really works for me to keep me motivated! Like I said before, I don't follow the nutrition guide though because I have found that Raw Till 4 works wonderfully for me and I love the way I feel eating this way. I've done a ton of research and believe that a vegan, plant based, high raw diet is the most nutritious way I can eat and nourish my body. However, while I try to stick to it as much as possible, I remain flexible because stressing out about your diet too much can be harmful too (same goes for working out too). I let myself have "cheat meals", especially on the weekends when we tend to eat out a lot because we are home less and it's harder to remain as healthy as I'd like. But like I said, I don't worry about it too much. I just hop back on the raw till 4 train and bounce back! 
Also, on a side note. I've found that working out is much  more enjoyable with other people. It's fun to bond over something as healthy as working out and the support is really wonderful. So if you have a hard time getting motivated to work out, I suggest you recruit a friend with similar goals so that you can support and encourage each other. I'm telling you, it makes a world of difference! 

Vegan Vindaloo

I'm fairly new to Indian food, only discovering my love for it within the last two years or so. And even more recently than that, I've decided to try my hand at cooking it! It took me a few tries to get a really good dish as I'm not used to working with all of these different spices but I made this last night and it totally hit the spot! I love vindaloo, it's a go-to for me so when it came out even more delicious than I expected, I was extremely pleased with myself. Success! And what I love about Indian food is that it is pretty easy to whip up (if you get the spices right), mostly healthy (if you use the right ingredients), and really simple to make vegan. Hey, everything I look for in a meal! So anyways, here's my recipe. I hope you like it as much as I do: 
Ingredients:  1 onion, chopped  1/2 bulb garlic, peeled and diced 1 head of cauliflower, cut up into bite size pieces 15 oz can chickpeas, drained  2 potatoes, cut into bite size pieces 2-4 cups spinach (I forgot this but I'd like to add it next time) 1 bunch cilantro (about 1/4-1/2 cup), chopped 14.5 oz can diced tomato (no salt added) 1/4 cup lemon juice/acv/red wine vinegar/white vinegar/balsamic vinegar  (I used balsamic)
Spice mix:  2 tbsp chili powder 1 tbs mustard seed  1 tbs coriander seed  1 tbs cumin  1/2 tbsp paprika  1/2 tsp cinnamon  1 tsp turmeric  1 tsp black pepper  1 tsp coconut sugar (I added a little extra to make it sweeter for Eliza, just a few tablespoons) 2 tsp fresh grated ginger or 1 tsp ground ginger Salt to taste  Directions:  1. Saute onion and cauliflower in pan with a little bit of water (or oil if you prefer).  2. Meanwhile, boil potatoes in a pan with water just covering them until they become soft.  3. When onions soften, add in crushed tomatoes, garlic, and chickpeas. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. 4. Add vinegar or lemon juice, spice mix, and cooked potatoes. Cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.  5. Add the cilantro and spinach in last, cook for an additional 5 minutes.  6. Serve over naan or basmati rice. For next time: I think I'll add a bit more salt (read: I'll actually add salt) and more chili powder to bump up the spice. Maybe even cayenne? But everything else was great! I can't wait to delve into creating other yummy, vegan Indian dishes. Woohoo! 

Tiny Home Living: Ways to Simplify

Whether you live in a tiny home, a small space, or a big space, simplifying is a great tool to manage your home so that you can spend more time playing instead of cleaning! I have a love/hate relationship with cleaning. You see, I LOVE it when my house is clean and tidy. However, it's usually not. We have 3 people living in 192 square feet, things just get messy. So I end up cleaning, every day. Lucky for me, it takes a short amount of time to do all of it but still. Cleaning is cleaning is cleaning. Over time, I've learned some easy ways to keep the mess in check and make my job a little bit easier. So I'm here to share it with you, so you can keep your cleaning to a minimal too! And if you have any extra tips, I'd looooove to hear them!

• Use only one towel per person each week for bathing, wash on laundry day
• Use hand towels/washcloths for everything else, no paper towels = less waste and less trash
• Meal plan on Sundays or Mondays. It's easier to plan and shop for food all in one day, I usually plan for only 4 meals during the week. That way we can have a day for leftovers if I make too much or we can eat out on Friday. And usually the weekends are free for all. We're not usually home much on the weekends so I just skip trying to plan meals for them. 
• Do laundry on one day, my laundry day is Monday. This means clothes, towels, and bedding if needed. I try to do our sheets and pillowcases every week and comforters/quilts every couple of weeks. 
• De-clutter more! Obviously the less you have, the less you have to take care of, the less you stress about cleaning and picking up. This includes clothes, toys, decor, other random belongings, kitchen appliances and accessories, do you really need that many wooden spoons?
• Make list of goals and prioritize. I am the queen of lists. I have lists for everything. My mind is always going 1,000 miles per hour so having lists helps me to keep my thoughts straight. It also allows me to prioritize and get the important things taken care of! Plus I know when I've done enough for one day and can relax knowing I was productive enough (by my standards). 
• Travel! Go camping or visit somewhere new. I find that traveling helps to put things in perspective most of the time. It can help you to figure out what you can or can't live without and inspires you to let go of the need for "stuff" so that you can enjoy life's other adventures.
• Get rid of unnecessary/excess dishes, silverware, and cookware so you don't have to do as many dishes! Whether you have a dishwasher or not, keeping the eating ware to a minimum does wonders for your dish washing time. If you can't let them go quite yet, keep the excess in storage for any special occasion when you may need all of them again. 
• Keep things where you use them, this may seem obvious but if you store things closest to where you might use them, it cuts down the chance of them wandering off and getting placed/thrown somewhere else and having to get picked up later on. If you keep them right where you need them, they'll never have to move. 
• Have a place for everything! Having a good system of organization is key to keeping a tiny home clean. And if you can't find a place for it, get rid of it! Or else it'll just float around and add to the clutter and mess! 
• Communicate! Organization is important but it doesn't help if no one else knows where things belong. It's important to collaborate and communicate so that everyone can pitch in keeping a space clean and tidy! 
• Smaller is easier. Small table, small tv, small decorations, small closet, small fridge. Small is just easier. 
• Invest in services like Netflix, Hulu, Redbox, online swap markets, and even use your local library! This minimizes the amount of books, movies, clothes, etc. that you have to store but can still enjoy at your leisure. 
• And my number 1 easiest way to make a house feel clean: declutter surfaces, keep them clean. Sometimes when I get stressed out, I'll pick a surface (say my kitchen counter, table, pantry shelves, or even living room shelving), put away the stuff that doesn't belong, tidy up the stuff that does, wipe it down to make it look clean, and voila! It works wonders on my anxiety levels. It's totally just a mind trick but when you can actually see empty space, it really makes an area feel so much cleaner and decluttered. And then I can get back to doing whatever it is I was supposed to be doing instead of stressing out about my messy house! 
• Sometimes it just takes living in a space to figure out what works best for you, how you use it, and the best systems to keep it tidy. That's why I loved that we were living in our tiny home before it was completely finished. It gave us the opportunity to be flexible about our design and change it when we felt we could improve on the space efficiency. We didn't deviate too much from our original plan but we did make minor (but still important!) changes that definitely enhanced our tiny little home. You can only plan so much on paper but when you can actually be in the space, it makes a world of difference to be able to imagine and devise physical structures and see how they fit into the grand design. 

We're still working on simplifying every day. Living in a house this mall is definitely an adventure and I imagine, it will be a while before we get completely used to it and work out all the kinks. But there is no where else I'd rather be.