Loving Large in a Little House

I think it is typical of young girls to dream about what their life will look like when they grow up, and such dreaming was definitely true in my own life.  I dreamt of living in your typical Southern Living house, with a porch that wrapped all the way around.  A lush, green yard with a willow tree draping over the brick-paved driveway.  And I most definitely knew that this picturesque life would be nestled in the mountains of North Carolina.  As I write this, I'm sitting in my tiny yellow house, plopped closely between my neighbors, in Orlando, Florida.

I never expected the path to lead to Orlando and I definitely didn't expect to be living in such a tiny house.  But over the last two years, I have learned a lot from living 'small.'

• 800 square feet is very easy to clean.  It's amazing what all can be accomplished around this place in an hour!
• Organization is key.  There is no room for disarray!
• A husband and wife must settle disagreements quickly because there is nowhere to run away.
• It only takes a small lamp and candle to make a space cozy and inviting.
• 'Stuff' can be beautiful, but it can also be distracting.
• Sit close together...maybe because you have to or maybe because you just should.
• Kitchens are meant for making memories, not just food.
• Don't make excuses for your home.  Your guests are not going to notice the 'imperfections.'
• Home-ownership is a never-ending journey, so appreciate each phase and change.
• Your home is a reflection of you - make it what YOU want it to be.  Small does not equal lesser-than, just like big does not equal better-than.  

I have spent much of the last two years feeling embarrassed because our house is small.  I was caught in the middle of an ugly comparison match, but when it came time for my husband and I to make the decision about needing more space, I just couldn't part with our 'little house.'  

So, I am excited for you to follow me on the journey of making This Little House the home of my (new) dreams.