Our Tiny Laundry Room (WonderWash + Nina Dryer Review)

Well, we found a use for the spare bathroom that we have... we've converted it into a laundry room!

The apartment that we're renting did come with a washer and dryer hook-up, but we really didn't want to spend the money to get a clunky washer and dryer (especially if we were going to just end up selling it not too far down the road).

So how did we turn our tiny spare bathroom into a laundry room? Let me introduce you to the WonderWash and the Nina Soft Spin Dryer!

Sching! *sparkle sparkle*

Apartment Hunting

We finally found an apartment to stay at until we find some property. Apartment hunting in Georgia has made me realize even more so how expensive living in California is. 

Tiny House Tour

Will and I have been looking into tiny houses for a while now. I love the concept of a tiny house, because its affordability gives you complete ownership of your home without having to worry about a mortgage, and it's size allows you to be efficient with your space and utilities. You can't just go and buy a ton of stuff -- you have to think about what you really need, how functional it is, and how it will fit into the space you have (in other words, it'll keep me from being a pack rat). In addition to all that, you have the freedom to relocate and bring your whole house with you.

We recently were able to see one in person for the first time! We want to say thank you to Denise and Tom of Hummingbird Housing for showing us around their tiny home.

Update!

Well, if anyone has been following only this blog and not my Facebook, they would think that we got lost in New Orleans and fell off the grid. Ha! Well, for those of you who may not know, Andrew and I made it to Georgia!

  
  We've been doing a bit of sight-seeing, but mostly hanging out and looking for an apartment to stay at until we find something permanent....

Day Eight

Travel Itinerary - 6/9/2014:
 The plan was to wander around New Orleans, Louisiana (NOLA)! We ended up going to...
(1) Cafe Beignet
(2) Shops down Bourbon and Dumaine St
(3) French Quarter Flea Market
(4) French Quarter and Cemetery Walking Tour (Thank you to John Doheney, our tour guide!)
(5) French Market Restaurant

 Cafe Beignet in the Musical Legends Park

Day Seven

Travel Itinerary - 6/8/2014:
(1) Texas (via I 10)
(2) Louisiana (via I 10)
(3) New Orleans, Queen and Crescent Hotel

Louisiana is beautiful -- and green! 

Day Five and Six (R&R)

Travel Itinerary - 6/6-7/2014:
(1) Family
(2) Friends

We spent the past few days in Texas with family and friends. I figured they didn't want their pics on the public internetz for the woooorld to see (correct me if I'm wrong, guys), so the photos on here are a bit limited as of right now! 

Day Four

Travel Itinerary - 6/5/2014:
(1) New Mexico (via US 82 / US 285 / US 62)
(2) Carlsbad Caverns National Park
(3) Texas (via US 62 / HWY 652 / US 285 / I 20 / US 35W)

Will: As a last stop in New Mexico, we decided to delve into the depths of the earth and explore the Carlsbad Caverns.  After descending 750 feet below the surface, we departed our elevator and were greeted by the cool, crisp air of the cavernous expanse -- a completely alien world of massive columns and jagged spikes.  

Day Three

Travel Itinerary - 6/4/2014:  
(1) White Sands National Monument  

Today was a chill day, so we slept in and got some coffee at Plateau Expresso. It was a nice little joint with friendly staff and art for sale on the walls. This was my favorite piece:

"Chris Through the Eyes of Chris" --  $3968.48 -- Media type: Felt Pen on Scratch Paper"

Day Two

Travel Itinerary - 6/3/2014:
(1) Arizona (via Route 66 / I 40)
(2) New Mexico (via Route 66 / I 40 /  I 25 / US 380 / US 54)
(3) Valley of Fires National Recreational Area

Will: An early sunrise greeted us as we departed Arizona via Route 66, my wife and I were both intrigued by the stark differences in Arizona's landscape.  The colorful bands of rock formations that gave way to desolate fields of nothingness were strangely complimented by small pockets of emerald forest.  Unfortunately, northern New Mexico did not provide as much variety for the eye.  The highlight of our second day was the massive display of blackened lava that covered the Valley of Fires National Recreational Area towards southern New Mexico.

 We were going to go to the Grand Canyon, but roads were closed due to a fire. Here's what I would have looked like if we were to have gone!

Kay-oh-ayyyy?

During our journey thus far, we've been lodging with Kampgrounds of America (KOA), which is a franchise system of independently owned campgrounds. We opted for the one room cabin, but they have tent, RV, and deluxe cabin selections. Our cabin was small, but it was the perfect size; very cozy. The staff was extremely helpful and gave us tips about local eateries and places of interest.

Day One

Travel Itinerary - 6/2/2014:
(1) Yosemite National Park
(2) Nevada (via US 6 / US 95)
(3) Arizona (via US 93 / I 40)

Will: Hello Internet! I just wanted to provide a quick update on our progress traversing the vastness of North America; firstly, we entered the unspoiled treasure that is Yosemite National Park.  A towering mass of stone & lush green forest, Yosemite offered us a delightful view of Nature's true beauty and serenity.  In short, I hope the photos below inspire our readers to plan a trip of their own in the near future.

So it begins...

Okay, so I'm not quite sure how this whole blogging thing goes. My internet endeavors consist mainly of lurking as opposed to sharing and actually communicating with others, but this time is a bit different. The husband, Will, and I are moving cross-country in the hopes of buying land and living a more self-sustainable life... and I need to keep all my people up to date on the adventure!

The preparation for the trip was a big step in itself. Living a minimalistic life means minimizing our possessions, which was hard for a pack-rat like me. We didn't really have that much stuff to begin with, but our goal for the trip was to get everything we own into our one car. EVERYTHING. Part of the "purging" process was actually quite nice. Getting rid of the junk that's just been hanging around felt as if a weight had been lifted off of me. Plus, we donated most of what we got rid of, so it felt nice knowing it would benefit others. When it came down to it, though, some of my things were hard to get rid of! I'm big on sentimental value and my husband is not, so it was a breeze for him and a struggle for me. I was in a near fetal position clinging to a large stuffed raccoon that in no way was going to fit in our little Scion. My husband said I looked pathetic (I did). But somehow I managed! 

All of our things! ... Well, 90% of this stuff is mine. >_<

Will was able to miraculously Tetris our belongings into the back of the car -- aaand we were off! First stop was my hometown to spend time with family and the best of friends [I still need to sift through all the photos so maybe I'll edit this later when I have some extra time. For now I'm going to sleep~].