Deek Diedricksen of RelaxShacks.com dropped by for a tour of our Skoolie and here’s what happened: See the Video and leave a comment! ❤
So what’s it like to have someone tour your home and post a video online about it that gets 2K views overnight? It’s cool. I’m pleased. I read the comments and it’s like there is a pocket of nice people making comments on the interwebs – and all of them are right there at the same place at the same time. How cool is that?!
I really enjoy the tiny house community because it’s a place of creativity and ingenuity. And if you love Le Corbusier from the 1920’s Bauhaus like I do… then you make a version of the iconic Le Corbusier sofa for your Skoolie. If you are a rock-n-roll guy, then hang your guitars on your wall and put your drum kit in the living room instead of a sofa. If you love your old upright piano, then make it into a Murphy bed and put a keyboard where the keys of the piano used to be. (BTW – I’ve seen all of these and they are pretty spectacular!) Do your thing! And in this community, that’s not only accepted – it’s celebrated. Is it any wonder I love tiny house people!?
I bought a copy of Kerri’s wildly popular new book “What your Clutter is Trying to Tell You” and honestly I have not had time to read it, but I flipped through it. (I will take the time to read this book!) There are little ovals that stand out in the text with special messages she’s highlighting and a few of those really struck me. I haven’t even read the whole book and I know it’s a valuable resource because I know SHE is a valuable resource. If you’re considering the transition to a smaller space, or just want to live more simply in the space you already have – I would very happily point you to her book and her email list, and her Facebook Live events that she does. I can confidently say that her work will help you, because it’s already helped me and I haven’t even read the whole book yet. While you’re at it, consider signing up for her email list. Getting a super-helpful email like this is a real pleasure! And ya know… check her out on 
My cute little book is ready for the world today, and I’m so pleased to make it available far and wide. This has been a long time coming! 
I had an idea that I wanted to create a tiny house with food. I tried it first with Photoshop and hated how it turned out. So I went shopping and brought home all the prettiest produce. I started carving and placing, and again… it just wasn’t working. My handsome husband came home and looked around at the mess I was making. And before you know it I had sucked him in! He was there with his pocket knife working on getting the pieces structured so they would stay where I wanted them. There was no professional food people putting shellac, no cardboard – it was just us two crazy people in the kitchen having a fantastic time playing with our food! And then he even created a little doggie with the radish – using the root of the radish for the tail of the dog! I was delighted! I snapped some photos and look how it turned out?! I love it! I’m so pleased the book designer liked it enough to use it!
The back cover was almost as fun. There were many conversations between the designer and the publisher to get each detail right. I love the little kitchen graphic at the bottom with the ISBN code, the QR code, and the logo of the publisher. It was so fun to see the designer and publisher working out every detail with the faucet, saucepan – even the handle on the fridge door!
But that’s not all! There are quotes on the back from people I admire very much. I’ll tell ya, when the publisher sent off books to folks to have them read and respond – that’s a nerve wracking process! But look what happened?! 
I actually feel a little bashful that they liked my book and wrote such glowing reviews. Honestly, it was a true joy to read what they wrote and know that they really did understand what I was trying to do with this little book. I am so blessed!
Reading this book is a little bit like cleaning out the car. While the tasks of scrubbing, vacuuming and polishing might not be that much fun – enjoying the new sparkle in your ride makes it all worth it. (So go on, get on with it!) I suppose that’s the tough thing, nobody wants to be looking at all the changes that need to be made, but being on the other side having made those changes – Ahhhh! Bliss! Oh, BTW, I’m talking about Jenn Baxter’s new book,
Being proactive makes all the difference. I know I feel better when I avoid gluten, dairy, and sugar (I also look better). I love my hair color and nail polish, but I know they are loaded with toxins. I feel better when I’ve taken time to quiet my spirit in meditation or prayer. Every time I clean out my tiny house or my office – I love how much lighter and brighter those spaces feel. Every time I take another load of unneeded stuff to my favorite thrift store, I feel lighter and more free. I have made a lot of progress on these fronts but this book inspires me to get back at it (without being preachy or holier than thou). I have not been taking care of myself lately and reading Jenn’s book has reminded me of how important it is.
I picked up this book earlier but my busy life bit me and I had to put it down. Picking it up again today was like finding a box of hand made truffles I didn’t know I had. Each chapter is contemplative and thoughtful and I have this feeling that the more I savor these words, the more I’ll discover the sweet hidden complexities found here.
Hari’s creativity and hospitality strikes me as I read these pages. Hari and Carl and their kids lived in the most micro of micro-houses… and still they invited people in to join them on the journey. The family is all snug in their cozy lofts, and someone is downstairs sleeping on the couch as well. There were sleepovers for the kids. They invited people to visit and connect with them in their tiny haven-home. I find that level of hospitality absolutely inspiring! Also… when someone is sleeping on the sofa where you write your weekly newsletter and you take some cushions into the shower to make a make-shift office so you can write in the early still hours of the morning – that is some fierce creativity and adaptability. Brava!! I get it! I need quiet alone time also or I’m no good to anyone. I see so much of myself in these pages, the needs I have for quiet and alone time, plus the needs I have for connection with other authentic people.
Xaver joins me in the Tiny House Foodie kitchen as I open the packet and pull out the proof of my new book. This is a pretty exciting moment for me as I’ve been working on this project for quite some time and it’s really fun to see it get to this stage!
Every now and then a book comes along that hits a note that speaks far beyond the story on the page, and this is it! I’m enamored by this magical story of sculpture that comes to life, worlds within worlds, Greek mythology, and people who observe much more than just body language. I’m nearly 50, so I’m not the intended audience, but I loved this story from the perspective of a story well told, and also as an empowering example of women helping women to grow, thrive, and embrace our uniqueness. Most of all, this book makes me want to go play with beads, and weave something, play the piano, and maybe even pull out my paints. This book is a life affirming study in the nature of creativity and our power to help people live true non-conformist lives of authenticity and compassion. I love the story, and I love the heart and creativity of the storytelling. 
This convoluted love story is paced like a comfortable walk and explores themes of purpose, passion, and what makes relationships work. The characters ring true, the love stories are universal. There is a theme throughout that money won’t make you happy and that following your purpose and passion is worth more than all the boyfriends in the world. I have been busy the last few days without time to stop and read, but this story kept drawing me back in. That’s a good sign. I’ll get the work done another day.