Tuesday- Temporal DeClutter

Almost 3 years ago we downsized. It has been the best decision we have ever made. I found this article on http://zerowastehome.blogspot.com. I feel like she took the words right out of my mouth. 

12 ways a small house has improved my life

1. Family bonds: We brush our teeth together, eat together, watch movies together, and even bump into each other ;), which sometimes turns into a wrestle (my fave).
2. Housekeeping efficiency: Five minutes to pick up, two hours to deep clean. Cleaning used to take all day, now it takes a morning.
3. Home maintenance cost: Although everything gets used more, there is less in quantity to break, and therefore less to repair. We can also easily stay on top of repairs.
4. Community exchange: We reach out to friends or community for seldomly used items. Today I sent out an email for a pair of hiking boots size 6, by the end of the day, I had located two pairs.
5. Utilities cost: A smaller house is evidently cheaper to heat and light, but also cheaper to retrofit (e.g., insulation, windows, and solar).
6. Space optimization: We use all the available space. I used to have a guest bedroom in my previous home. It required year round cleaning and heating, for only a couple of uses per year. Today, we simply offer the kids' bedroom to guests, and the kids get excited about camping in their playroom!
7. Home security: I definitely feel safer in a small home. I know every nook and cranny of the house. A monster cannot hide in the closet:)
8. Ecological impact: It makes Zero Waste manageable. "Less space, less stuff, less waste", Leo once said.
9. Residency options: For us, downsizing has afforded a spot within walking distance of great schools and an active downtown - after we were told that there was no availability in our price range.
10. Parental awareness: We used intercoms (baby monitors) in the old house. Now we can hear each other sneeze across the house. 
11. Health: For two reasons...1) A smaller space is easier to clean, which means that dust does not linger in hard to reach places; and, 2) A small house encourages outdoor activity - in the summer, my deck becomes my office.
12. Stuff management: Stuff has been easier to manage in a small home for 3 reasons

• Consumption: Small spaces control the amount of stuff coming into the house. In my old house, I bought furniture just to fill large rooms. Now, we focus on double duty and functional items.
• Organization (once you have decluttered): It's easy to put things away, easy to find things.
• Access: It's even easy to get to things (closer distances).

Thank you.........http://zerowastehome.blogspot.com

WORKOUT UPDATE: 
DAY 6- Our Amazing weather from yesterday turned to Snow today so I did Just Dance with the kids for 30 minutes. Fun Workout!!