It’s almost been two weeks since the sale on the townhouse closed. The increased freedom is starting to sink in after enjoying a couple of weekends free from tying up loose ends there. As with most big life changes, I learned a lot. Furnish for functionality rather than to fill a space. While we utilized… Continue reading Bye Bye Brownstone
Author: Pared Living
The Hardest Part
Throughout the process of paring down to 300ish square feet of living space, George has routinely made a point to ask me how I’m doing. One night he added a twist and asked me what I’ve found the hardest. Initially, I came up with nothing. This lifestyle is a choice we made together. Excitedly. A… Continue reading The Hardest Part
Presents of Presence
This past week Ellie has reverted back to having trouble falling asleep at night. I really, really think she’s teething now 😉 It’s taken up to an hour or so some nights for her to settle down with George and/or me singing to her, holding her hand, gently stroking her face and picking her up… Continue reading Presents of Presence
Poof!
We’re mobile! Our radical downsizing plans accelerated with the end of George’s local contract. New assignments that may require moving is perpetually a possibility working for a contractor in the power industry. We were extremely fortunate that George’s assignments during our courtship, nuptials and arrival of Ellie were all within a reasonable commuting distance. In… Continue reading Poof!
Breadfast
Thanks to our love for cooking, our kitchen is the room that has required the most thought and effort in relation to our radical downsizing efforts. While we’ve always made a conscious effort to avoid unnecessary kitchen gadgets, we delighted in keeping a well-stocked pantry full of staples as well as random new ingredients we… Continue reading Breadfast
Friday Tradition
George and I share a lot in common. One such thing is we don’t like getting comfortable with being comfortable. As such, we tend to shy away from most routines. We do make a few exceptions and one is Friday dinner. A couple of years ago, we joined a farm co-op. In addition to… Continue reading Friday Tradition
Reflecting on Mother’s Day
This past Sunday was my first Mother’s Day as a mom. While we didn’t do anything out of the ordinary, it was special. And, honestly, my ordinary is extraordinary to me. I spent a lot of time thinking. I thought about how incredibly lucky I am to have a mom and daughter who are both… Continue reading Reflecting on Mother’s Day
Another Confession…
That’s spilled wine on our stroller. When we have time on the weekends, George and I enjoy a nice glass of wine together. Our imbibing took a hiatus during pregnancy and the early weeks of parenting. Between the exhaustion from nighttime feeds and anxiety over safely enjoying alcohol while breastfeeding, neither of us wanted… Continue reading Another Confession…
Confessions of a Dietitian
I used to feel it was my duty to stay abreast of the latest fad diets and new “health foods” hitting grocery store shelves. I wanted to be in the know so I was equipped to answer questions from patients/clients, family and friends. Over the years, I’ve stopped putting time and energy into learning the… Continue reading Confessions of a Dietitian
Rolling on to Our Next Chapter
When I first met George, I was intrigued by how open and honest he was with sharing his past and present self, as well as his future aspirations. Our early conversations occurred via the Plenty of Fish private messaging platform. Aside from his handsome photos, what really stood out were his questions. They piqued my… Continue reading Rolling on to Our Next Chapter