My New Favorite Packing Tool

By Angie Quantrell @AngieQuantrell

This girl has some hard-to-wrap-and-secure items.

Enter plastic wrap. It's my new favorite packing tool.

Not only can I easily see what is packed inside the wrapping, the items are secure (should a moving earthquake occur and miniature items move around), the glass is held firmly in place, cords are stuck together instead of trailing around, and I always have plastic wrap on hand.

It's a win-win strategy!

You're welcome.

Living in the Candle Drawer

If I could live anywhere in my house, it would be in the candle drawer.

Of course I would have to be much smaller. And install a bathroom, kitchen, and electricity. One living in the candle drawer would need tiny lights to read all of those mini books. A cozy chair and bed would be nice.

Oh, and while we are at it, how about a miniature fireplace and snuggly kitty?

You may be wondering why, of all things, would I want to live in the candle drawer? And what in the world is a candle drawer anyway?

In this house, the candle drawer is in the hall cupboard. It holds a horrible mess of mismatched candle holders, Christmas tree wires (why? - too tangled to clear them out), rocks, tealights, scented candle wax for burners, and interesting containers and knickknacks.

But why?

The smell. Every time I open that drawer to get a tealight or extra scented wax, I am greeted by the best fragrance in the world. A combination of pine, lavender, pumpkin spice, mulberry, and other scents rush out, wrapping smokey fingers of delight around my head and nose.

I want to live in that drawer.

I'll clean out a corner and set up my studio apartment. I'll decorate it with handcrafted quilts, watercolor paintings, fluffy pillows, and shimmering candles. That's me, good to go.

Just remember to check on me once in a while. I may need food, coffee, cat food, or more books.

I'll be as happy as a lark on a spring day in May.

Do come visit.

If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

YARD SALE 101: Ways to Avoid the "Y" Word

What's hiding in your shed?


It's true. I really don't like having yard sales.

I love going to them, especially if they are well organized, have things I collect or must have, and have cheap prices.

Unless I am on a binge of cleaning out the house. For me, this has been going on for years. I may never want to attend a yard sale again. Well, maybe one that has rubber stamps.

YARD SALE 101: Ways to Avoid the "Y" Word = Keep Clutter at Bay to Avoid Need for Yard Sale

The very best thing to do to get out of all of the hours and days and weeks of preparation for a yard sale? Make your house allergic to the gathering of junk that will require a yard sale.

Here are some ways I've found to keep my house safe from (required) yard sale efforts.

1. Buy. Only. What. You. Need. Nothing else. You will have more money in your wallet and less junk in your house. Practice saying, "NO. I do not need this." NOW.

2. Eschew other yard sales and clearance bins. Look the other way. Choose a different route. Ignore the sales ads and going out of business signs.

3. Avoid gathering clutter. Get rid of stuff. One thing in? One thing out. Get a gift? Give a gift.

4. Use your things until they fall apart, break completely, or wear out. Trash them and update with a new item. ONE new thing for each thing out. There is no need to store extras when your current model may last for years.

5. Recycle. Don't feel bad about getting rid of that (book, magazine, newspaper, glass, etc.) thing. Feel good about recycling and not dumping belongings in the landfill.

6. Donate. Donate a lot. Choose a charity or good cause as the recipient for your extras. Goodwill, women's shelter, YWCA, Salvation Army, homeless shelter, and many church clothing closets or homeless ministries need donations of clothes, baby items, toys, and household goods. A simple phone call or two will help you find the right place for you.

7. Adopt the character trait of generosity. Give away things of beauty or function. See a need? Give something you have. Does someone express a genuine love for an item you no longer have room for? GIVE it to them.

8. Re-gift. Seriously. Unless your name is sewn onto something or the gift is so specific to you that it's impossible to do, re-gift items that do not fit your home, body, style, or space. Do offer sincere thanks to the giver, even if the gift is one you cannot use.


These tips are helping me to ever so slowly de-clutter my house. Our dream is to condense and clear out enough stuff so that we can build a small home of about 800 square feet. That goal is helping me to detach from belongings in order to be free of storing, organizing, and cleaning extra stuff. We can't wait for a simple home and lifestyle and are working on it one thing at a time.

Join me for the next two days for YARD SALE 102: Yard Sale Tips IF You HAVE to Have One and YARD SALE 103: How We Made People Happy at Our Yard Sale.

Thanks for reading and for sharing!

Dreams of Living Small - The Small House Movement

We have a very big dream of living small.

What does that mean?

For us ~

~ reducing the amount of belongings we own and have to care for

~ recycling, reusing, repurposing

~ condensing our lifestyle so that we use less, need less, and spend less

~ use the extra time, money, energy on what's important to us - family, friends, faith, travel, time together, motorcycle rides, gardening

~ building a smaller home to fulfill all of the above

I have long been reading and following those who already live in the movement known as tiny living (or small homes or simple living or minimalistic lifestyle). I'm fascinated with the super tiny living spaces, but realize that it won't work for us. This movement is ripe with ideas and ingenuity. I love reading what others have done. Perhaps future vacations will involve staying in some of those tiny spaces.

We are aiming for a 900 square foot (give or take) home. That would just about do it.

For now, we are juggling ideas, information, and expert opinions. Looking at possible property sites (one aspect of our dream is to get out of town and have more space for nature and outdoor projects like bigger gardens and quiet living) took us out on our first motorcycle ride of the year. I know. February. In Washington state. FEBRUARY. It's been so mild and nice, everything is budding and springing forth with green. Perfect for motorcycle rides. A little brisk, but wonderful.

Interested? Check out my two Pinterest boards - Les Petite Maisons and Our Tiny Home. Both have pins of some things we really like. I also follow the Tiny House Talk newsletter (tinyhousetalk.com). It is a wealth of examples and information about living small (or tiny).

Simple living. Ahhh.

Angie Quantrell and her husband are seeking ways to live small and simple. She just wonders how to contain two wild kitties who will undoubtedly destroy or race crazily through whatever size of space they find.