As we enter a new stage of life this week (empty nesting!), we're looking for ways to lean into fresh starts rather than sad endings. Among other things, taking a fresh look at living lighter on the planet is attracting my focus + excitement. 

We're currently discussing + looking into:

• further decreasing our water usage :: with one less person taking showers, it's a great time to redouble our efforts toward taking shorter showers + noticing the cost savings on our water bill (which can motivate further water conservation)
• quitting trash + recycling pickup :: skipping the convenience of trash pick-up would give us added incentive to keep our waste minimal...sorting each item at our local recycling facility will make us revisit our waste output...knowing exactly what is + isn't accepted will prompt us to make conscious decisions about what we do + don't purchase 
• reevaluating our zero-waste shopping :: with different desires to consider for meals + comfort, we can make different choices
• using a solar panel :: we'd like to test out having a less expensive, small, portable panel to see how much of our needs it can meet + prompt our thinking about how we use electricity 

I'm having fun researching + leaning into these shifts. It's exciting to think about all the benefits that are possible here. Our choices would not only cost the earth less in resources, pollution and landfill space. They will save us money, increase our wellness and enhance our connection with nature. So it goes with most of these planet focused efforts. Why would we want to choose otherwise?

Love,
Jane

The ways we use the spaces in our home are based on how we want to live. I'm not captive to someone else's assumptions about how a space should be used. I am of the opinion that reimagining is glorious fun + am not opposed to having a thought + moving quickly to try it out. I try to have only what we use + to have an easily accessible place for each of those things.

This is the sort of thinking that prompted this particular project. I want to make it easy to take simple, weekend camping trips + envision our downstairs closet being set up to facilitate that (along with holding the few things we keep to make Jo's dog comfortable when he spends time here). ​

Here's what we've done to move toward the desired results:

• pull everything out of the closet
• laugh at how the closet's contents somehow fill every inch of space in the room + bolster confidence by congratulating self on obvious closet organizing skills  ;)
• sort stuff into piles: things we want to keep in this closet, things that can be placed elsewhere, daughters' things, things to offer daughters, things to put into the car right now + drive to donation spots, recycling, trash
• ​organize the closet so that the things we actually want to use have spots + are easily accessed

This last step involved measuring things + planning where each item would go down to the centimeter. We ended up removing almost all of the closet system that came with the house, because it just didn't work for these items. Habitat for Humanity was happy to take the components. We took the time to patch + repaint the inside of the closet + purchased an Ikea Ivar shelf. This single shelf fit our closet + our things like a glove.

Before starting this work, almost none of the things I actually wanted to keep in the closet fit into it. This closet is now a functioning part of our home, rather than a mere storage space. The things that are in this closet now are the ones that will enhance our ability to connect with nature + each other. That's how we want to live!

Love,
​Jane

We're in the midst of having our floors redone, which means that we are moving everything from our living spaces (upstairs) into the downstairs room. I'm thinking about this opportunity to move only the necessary upstairs again at the end of this project with a glint of excitement (+ aching hands + knees). 

I'm not sure that there will be a whole lot to let go of in the end (because I keep a pretty tight inventory of things), but I'm always curious to experience less. 

The less things there are in a space, the more value each thing takes on. A lamp becomes a prized piece of sculpture with varied form (lit + unlit). Color, texture + style become visible when a wardrobe is intentionally curated to contain only favorite pieces. The function of the bedroom (rest) becomes visual when desks, workout equipment + clutter are removed.

Even (+ maybe especially) good things can accumulate to an unhelpful level. A collection of plants can be spectacular, and it can be spectacular to have one or two plants that attract attention as individual elements of form + function. A collection of jeans can be cool, and it can be cool to own just a few favorites that feel exquisitely personal + fully "enough".

What I see in the photos above + in the type of home I want to live in is a feeling of spaciousness, room to breathe + stretch + move. I want there to be room for imagination to bloom + for love to unfurl. This feeling does not require square footage, but it does (for me) require blank space (an unadorned wall or empty shelf), uncovered windows that allow light to pour in + less stuff in view. 

I'm listing the essentials for each room + dreaming of what the space can look + feel like stripped of all the extra bits that accumulate. When each of these essentials has been chosen with intention toward function + beauty, less additional items are needed to communicate style. 

Bedroom (for rest, relaxation, connection + clothing):

• bed
• bedside tables
• lamps
• laundry baskets
• closet shelving

Livingroom (for connection, relaxation + creativity):

• sectional
• ottoman
• light

Kitchen area (for nourishment, connection + food):

• table
• couch
• footstool
• side table

Movement space (for peace, movement + gratitude):

• yoga mats
• lamp

I will savor sprinkling my little curated collection of ceramics, books + bits back in...in time. 

A fresh opportunity for "less" offers itself every day. This particular opportunity will not be missed.

All lovely photos via links.

Love,
​Jane

I frequent instagram less + less, but this morning I visited for a few minutes + read some encouraging words, found out about a health crisis + was able to give a bit toward mounting costs (this country's healthcare system is ridiculous), and came across something else that tickles my brain (twice). Recognizing the tickle, I was able to disengage with the app + move into my thoughts. Sweet spot.

One of the posts showed a circle created with tape on the ground in a public square. A guitarist played next to a piece of poster board labeling the space, "dance circle". People stopped + danced, while others continued to walk past.

Another post showed a tea ceremony peacefully taking place on a tatami mat inside a frame of wood slats forming a cube. This cube was set in various spots such as a snowy wilderness or a busy city sidewalk. 

The idea of a space created within a space with very little visual barrier + that created space facilitating behavior that would not have happened otherwise is fascinating. 

What behavior could I invite + catalyze by creating intentional spaces within my own spaces? 

• a space that draws me toward practicing movement, stretching, meditation, gratitude 
• a space that motivates me to choose whole foods
• a space that invites + enhances connection
• a space that promotes restful sleep
• a space that inspires moving through that day with softness + love

Imagine.

Love,
Jane

Photos of Pierre Sernet's inspiring work, One via his website.

Until a week or two ago, my partner's + my closet held the access to our attic. Each time the wiring needed to be accessed or a squirrel needed to be relocated (!), I cleared much of our closet to make way. We finally moved the attic access to the hallway + were free to make a few changes that make better use of our closet as a result. 

​I felt strongly about the look I wanted to achieve, and it just makes me smile to look at our closet now. I love the warmth of the wood (this shelving) + the baskets. It functions a treat with stacks of each category of clothing + things we want to keep out of sight corralled in baskets. ​

​The simplicity we've honed in our wardrobes is working nicely for us here. Knowing what we like to wear again + again allows us to keep the number of pieces minimal + the color palette cohesive. For me, this is just another benefit of having a simple wardrobe. 

​I really wanted to have all of my clothing in one place. The amount of space felt adequate, so I set about letting go of some things that I like (love even), but don't wear often. This process feels like taking the chips I actually want to eat out of the bag + placing them in a bowl. When I see them in the bowl, I can recognize enough + will likely eat less than if I just ate them mindlessly out of the bag while watching a movie.​

I feel really good about choosing what I love, being able to see it + knowing I don't need more. That's all, and it's so good!  :)

Love,
Jane

Yesterday's news prompted today's action. Over the years, I have trained myself into a way of thinking that is always curious about the next step...the way toward better. I know that perfection isn't a possibility for me, but there is usually room for better. 

As I read that article, a mental list was forming of things I need to think through with this new insight. Most of the items on the list are used with the intention of reducing waste, but the realizations that:

1. plastic breaks down with time + use
2. opening a plastic lid can sprinkle microplastics into our food
3. using furniture made of plastic fibers makes microplastics we inhale

offer motivation to make changes. 

I prioritized skipping plastic with each of these purchases, but was bound by what was on offer in the marketplace. I ended up making compromises based on what I knew at the time. Now I'm thinking a little bit differently about how plastic is evidently ending up in our bodies. Obviously, I want to decrease what I can.

A few of the things I'm thinking through today:

• plastic sippy lids I like to use for smoothies :: I bought our sippy lids as a way to avoid single use plastic cups + straws when the plastic version was the only one on the market. There are now stainless steel lids. I just hadn't totally seen the need to move on from ours until now. 
• tea bags. While I prefer loose tea, I sometimes end up with gifted tea bags. I'm going through everything to double check for plastic tea bags.
• lunch containers. I've long tried to find wide, squat jars for our lunches, but our glass containers with their plastic lids were the compromise I made when that didn't happen.
• the water bottle I've been using most lately. Again, this bottle was a compromise. It's size makes it easier to track my hydration. It is glass with a silicone sleeve, and I planned to trade the silicone straw for a glass straw. I decided to make this one exception for silicone, but now it feels like a dubious allowance.
• our couches + ottoman. Durability + style influence longevity. I bought these with slipcovering in mind. Just more motivation to begin. 
• a renewed commitment to skip grocery packaging. The pandemic required some changes (as did some diet + life shifts). There is now room for reassessment.
• spatula. I just did the dishes + had totally forgotten about my mostly plastic spatula. Time for a wooden one.

A few of the things I'm thinking through as I consider shifts:

• making waste. Simply discarding these things makes more waste. If I think they are bad for my people + the planet, then donating them will be bad for other people + the planet. They might help others reduce their use of single use plastics, however. This feels tricky.
• creative use. Rather than transferring the ill effects of plastic teabags (if I'd found any) to others, they could be cut open + the tea could be used to dye a stained shirt.
• replacements. Do I need to replace things, or can I shift habits instead. For example, I use my sippy lids mostly to avoid my smoothies coming unstuck from the bottom of my cup + ending up on my shirt. Considering how I feel about the silicone gasket on the stainless steel version, I could just make my smoothies a bit more watery. 

​
New knowledge presents us with opportunities to create new inflection points + to embrace shifting priorities with creativity and curiosity. I see opportunities for increased wellness here, and so can other members of the caring, thinking, voting, consuming society...and so can manufacturers + policy makers. How exciting!

There are simple reasons to get moving, but if anyone needs some motivation, here's what I find true:

• Taking action keeps me from becoming blind to the problem. The everyday nature of drinks coming in plastic cups + groceries coming in plastic bags can lull us into complicity. Tuning in + shifting my habits wakes me up to seeing things that I've stopped seeing. This is a practice...a constant reawakening!
• Taking action keeps me from hopelessness. Hope feels better than despair.
• The best motivation for me is love. I can't keep microplastics out of the people I love, out of all of us, out of our waterways or air or land. They are already in us. I can try to reduce the amount of microplastics my choices add. 
• With imagination, better is almost always possible. 

​
Let's keep trying.
​
I love you all,
Jane

I love the way good shops display their wares. Each piece looks like a treasure. There are color stories. There are hints toward origins + use. Intriguing lighting, transporting music, inviting scent, and charming people vibes draw us in + make us want to take a piece of it with us when we leave.

On the way home, my thoughts often turn toward my own treasures + the ability I have to display my own pieces in ways that call me to appreciate their beauty + inspire me to reach for them with eagerness.

I'd love for my closet to work this way. It's a small space with a big calling, so I did a little dreaming today with all of this in mind. I'd love some warm wood shelves with sweet little cubbies that let each stack shine.

A few ways we could move toward this dreamy set-up:

• DIY shelving. (but...skillz, toolz...blah, blah...)
• A Rugosa or two. (but hiding that splurge in the closet might feel odd...)
• An Ivar combination. We could have narrower shelves (more like the cubbies I envision) or longer shelves (which would allow us to have our laundry baskets in the closet)
• Baskets. Corral little bits + out of season items while bringing some warm tones in.

I can imagine a closet set up like this giving us a little extra incentive to:

• lean into "enough" + "less" (to keep it from looking overstuffed)
• lean into personal style (to keep the space somewhat visually cohesive)

Sounds good to me!  :)

All inspiring photos via links.

Love,
​Jane

Sinking into the goodness that is already here.

I think a lot about enough + less, because I am continually reminded that that is what allows my mind to be most at peace. My mind now has practiced pathways that make an effort to prevent me from making impulse purchases. And yet, when I'm thinking through making a few little improvements around the house, I often find myself looking outward...to add something. 

A few weeks ago, a hanging plant that we've had for over a decade started to bloom again. It's blooms are tiny, but hundreds of them come all at once + they have a scent that my allergies don't like. Since we made some changes in our kitchen, the place we most like to sit is right under that plant. I finally decided that I do not need to endure the itchy eyes + stuffy nose that plant brings. Jo brought it to her place, and I was left with an empty plant hook that I was in no real hurry to fill. A couple weeks later, I was at the plant store for a different reason + decided to take a look at the hanging plants. One of the hanging plants they had was a rhipsalis. 

I have a scraggly rhipsalis, but had never thought of hanging it. I had a lighter pot for hanging + some soil too. A few days later, I repotted the plant + realized that I didn't have a hanger. My other hangers were made out of rope that I bought from the hardware store. I didn't want to leave the house, so I thought about what else I could possibly use...twine? A few minutes later, I hung the pot + I love it so much!

It's been a year since we changed things in our kitchen. The contractor + electrician agreed to put our overhead lighting on a dimmer...and yet, they did not. I decided that was one battle too many in the midst of all the others. None of us likes the garish light when it's dark outside, so I've been looking for a lamp...for a year. As darkness comes earlier + stays later (again), I'm feeling very motivated to find a solution. Today, I was watching this Noguchi video + thinking of my (not Noguchi) paper lamps. 

We have two paper hanging lamps downstairs that don't get used often. I've thought of them before, but I don't want to hang a light from the ceiling in the kitchen. Then it occurred to me that maybe I could use one like a lamp on the top of the fridge! Ten minutes, a piece of tape + a clothespin later...and we have the most lovely, warm, glow in our kitchen! It's not taking up space on the shelf. The cord is hidden by the fridge. It didn't cost anything. And...it ties in with the paper lampshade across the room too.

Adding more to our space always makes me nervous. I don't want more. I want less...less to clean...less to take care of...less to purchase...less visual clutter. When I can use what I already have in new ways, it makes me so, so happy!

Love,
​Jane

The couch we bought a year ago was available in dark charcoal...a color that isn't usually my first choice. I was ok with it, because I thought I'd probably make a slipcover for it anyway. Since we've had it in our north facing living room, however, the color has grown on me. Now I'm contemplating embracing its moody hue + doubling down on it.

We've long been on the lookout for a big ottoman that can service more than two pairs of legs at once. The only one that has struck a chord with me is one in the same dark color as the couch. We're also considering growing our couch into a sectional, and I'm in search of confirmation that my eye can take so much darkness in my space.

These photos have me thinking that white walls, jute rugs + minimal decorations (all of which we already have) might provide enough light(ness) + warmth to please my senses. The dark pieces feel cozy + enveloping...just the draw I want for this space.

I think I like it, and no one is more surprised than me!  :)  (ope, hints!)

All lovely photos via links.

Love,
Jane