Topic: Minimalist

The idea of living out of a backpack for a month was something I had to warm up too the first time I backpacked through Europe (in 2006). I remember when my pack came in the mail; I ripped open the packaging and then just starred at it. It was even smaller than I imagined.

You have to understand something about me: I was the kind of gal that took two giant suitcases for a weekend getaway because you just …

I'm looking for less stress and more happiness.That's what led me down this minimalist past. I had this awakening--realization that I'm a happy person by nature. I start my day with a glass full of happiness and it's the outside world that drinks it up. I realized if I want to be happier, I must to protect my glass and it's contents. I have to avoid or remove the stress monsters that are drinking from my glass.

The first …

When I organized my pantry, I knew the closet was something I'd have to tackle as part of my minimalist journey. I don't know why I'd put it off... I just did... but then this weekend, I was finally motivated. 

(Embarrassing & Painful) Before pictures:

Yikes! We don't even have a lot of clothes... how did it get so nuts?! 

When tackling my closet I knew I had to do more than tidy up and put things away to make it feel …

When I went vegan I had all these assumptions about how my friends would react to my new lifestyle. I figured there would be some teasing, some peer pressure trying to get me to “cheat” and all the annoying questions like “where do you get your protein?” but what I never expected was the open hostility.

Now, I have to interrupt and say that most of my friends were pretty awesome about it. Some were curious and the rest had …

The other week my friend Olivia messaged me, asking if I had any advice for her before she took her bar exam the following day. 

I thought back to when I sat for California and New York's exams, scratching my head to come up with something that would really help Olivia. All I could think to tell her was "believe in your own bullshit." (Pardon my language.)

So, that's the advice I gave Olivia. I think her response went something …