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Live Small. Eat Well.

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Live Small. Eat Well.

Welcome here – I'm Leanne. I love to cook because I love to eat. I'm currently living small with my husband and 2.5 yr old daughter. Check back monthly for new recipes, food tips, tidbits from our journey, insight on parenting au-naturel and encouragement for the seemingly never ending journey towards minimalism. See you around!

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Since it’s April fools AND Ben’s birthday, I thought we would do a quiz. There are four “facts” about Ben listed, but only three are true. Can you guess which is the fake?⁣ ⁣ 1. He proposed to me in the top of a pine tree.⁣ 2. He completely took apart a car, including the engine and rebuilt it. ⁣ 3. He stood on top of the Detroit train station during 55 mph winds and teetered over the leading edge while the wind held him up. ⁣ 4. He went skydiving a week after getting his wisdom teeth removed. ⁣ ⁣ This photo is from one of our last nights in Colorado. What a bold sunset it was. (There are a couple more pics in my stories!)⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ #Houseonwheels⁣ #Rvfamily⁣ #Parentswhowander⁣ #Followtheadventure⁣ #Spectacularviews⁣ #livelifeoutdoors⁣ #Naturesmagic⁣ #Seethebeautyaroundyou⁣ #Natureistherapy⁣ #Exploringfamily⁣ #Nomadfamilies⁣ #childrenofmountains⁣ #mountainsplease⁣ #adventurefreaks #sunset #sunsetphotography #profilepic #contrastphotography #orangesunset #coloradosunset #coloradoliving #birthdaypost #dadsbirthday #husbandbirthday #aprilfools #aprilfoolsday #aprilfools2020 #aprilfoolsbaby #quizinstagram #trueorfalse

Okay, so I was little slow to warm up to the changes of “house living” after being in an RV, but I will now admit that it is nice to have a table just for crafts and a whole couch to share. It’s nice to not have to plan shopping and meals around whether or not it will fit in the fridge. It’s nice to not have to be super quiet after Ilamay goes to bed. It’s nice to have a washer and dryer in the basement! ⁣⁣ ⁣ I know we would have been fine had we been quarantined in the RV, but I am now extra grateful to have the extra food storage space and to not have to frequent the laundromat. We are also taking full advantage of the extra space we have to play. We are just focusing on activities that don’t make as much mess since I was feeling overwhelmed with how spread out our messes can get in this place. ⁣⁣ ⁣ What can you appreciate about your quarantine situation today?⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Pic is from exploring an abandoned house in CO. You’ll have to see the others I was going to post in my stories since IG is having a hard time with carousels right now. ⁣⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ #Smallliving⁣⁣ #Rvfamily⁣⁣ #Parentswhowander⁣⁣ #raisingstronggirls⁣⁣ #Tinybigadventure⁣⁣ #Adventuringwithkids⁣⁣ #adventuresareeverywhere⁣⁣ #Takeyourkidseverywhere⁣⁣ #Outdoorkid⁣⁣ #bornwild⁣⁣ #Followtheadventure⁣⁣ #Wildandfreekids ⁣⁣ #Exploringfamily⁣⁣ #littleadventures⁣⁣ #childrenwhoadventure⁣⁣ #Happinesscomesfromwithin⁣⁣ #lookforthegood⁣⁣ #findingjoyinthejourney⁣⁣ #Livingthesimplelife⁣⁣ #lessstuffmorelife ⁣⁣ #livingsimple⁣⁣ #minimallifestyle⁣⁣ #minimalists⁣⁣ #theuniverseprovides ⁣⁣ #abandonedhouse⁣⁣ #coloradolife ⁣⁣ #farmland⁣⁣ #farmhouse⁣⁣ #quarantined⁣⁣ #gratitudepost

We NEEDED this. Ben says we should do this twice a year. I don’t know if I should even be writing this because there are people dying while the rest of us are sitting around being pretty darned privileged. I guess, I don’t mean that we needed a virus (although I do think everything is intertwined and working toward the greater goal). I mean that our society was/is functioning inefficiently and those of us who are getting a break are seeing how we should really be living. And now I guess I’m saying that we should all be privileged... I guess that’s true. I do think we should all do everything in our power to live lives where we put our well-being first, where spending time together isn’t an afterthought, where we put time and energy into our own interests over someone else’s, and where gratitude is a constant reminder not to stop all of the previous. And I think most of us have more of that within our own power than we think. ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ #Parentswhowander⁣ #Lifelearners⁣ #Slowchildhood⁣ #slowparenting⁣ #Parentingjourney⁣ #toddlermoments⁣ #Tinybigadventure⁣ #Adventuringwithkids⁣ #adventuresareeverywhere⁣ #Takeyourkidseverywhere⁣ #Outdoorkid⁣ #Outdoorkidsarehappykids⁣⁣⁣ #livelifeoutdoors⁣ #Outsideisbetter⁣⁣ #Exploringfamily⁣ #Nomadfamilies⁣⁣ #littleandbrave⁣ #littleadventures⁣ #childrenwhoadventure⁣ #Lettherebedelight⁣ #goodforthemind⁣ #Treasuringlittlemoments⁣ #lookforthegood⁣ #Livingthesimplelife⁣ #livingsimple⁣ #theuniverseprovides #covid_19 @sundayafternoons_hats #selfquarantine #socialdistancing #stayathome

Here we are. Ben, Ilamay & Leanne (me). I hoped to share a much more exciting family pic, but this is what I got after setting up the tripod in the yard to take a single photo (someone in the family would not sit for more than one – can you guess who?) ⁣ ⁣ We just moved into a house after living in an RV for 1.5 yrs. Not because we didn’t want to be in the RV – just because it made sense for our current agenda. We’re currently in MI paying off debt and dreaming of getting back to the mobile life. ⁣ ⁣ Ben is a caring soul and a skilled craftsman. He loves getting immersed in his work (or play) to the point of loosing track of time. I think, one day, he’ll change the world with his grand & astute ideas. ⁣ ⁣ I, Leanne, am into holistic living and I enjoy all parts of the food creation and eating process. I like to be well & enjoy time well spent. ⁣ ⁣ Ilamay (nearly 3 yrs. old) is definitely the life of the party. She doesn’t dance as much as she used to, but when she does it’s a real treat. She’s strong, able and persistent. I can’t wait to watch what she does with her powers. ⁣ ⁣ If you’re new here, welcome! Thank you for joining our little circle of the world. And if you’re not, thank you twice for sticking around! I’ve been loving getting really connected with some of you and swapping ideas/recipes/tips! ⁣ ⁣ Happy to answer any and all questions you may have for us. ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ ⁣ #Smallliving⁣ #Rvfamily⁣ #rvlife⁣ #easyhealthymeals⁣ #momswhocook⁣ #momswhobake⁣ #Healthycomfortfood⁣ #Parentswhowander⁣ #Lifelearners⁣ #raisingstrongwomen⁣ #raisingstronggirls⁣ #Adventuringwithkids⁣ #Takeyourkidseverywhere⁣ #Outdoorkid⁣ #bornwild⁣ #Followtheadventure⁣ #Outsideisthebestside⁣ #Wildandfreekids ⁣ #livelifeoutdoors⁣ #Outsideisbetter⁣ #Exploringfamily⁣ #Nomadfamilies⁣ #childrenwhoadventure⁣ #adventurefreaks⁣ #changeyourmindchangeyourlife⁣ #Livingthesimplelife⁣ #lessstuffmorelife ⁣ #livingsimple⁣ #minimallifestyle⁣ #macsinstatribe

You’ll hear people say that adventure can be found in your own backyard. I agree and believe in the mindset shift that can happen to allow little adventures to take place no matter what and no matter where. But I still feel there are different levels to the adventure (one not better than the other, mind you).⁣ ⁣ Driving 30 min up a bumpy mountainside to be greeted with a most strenuous hike to the top is different than a neighborhood hike/stroll. It offers a different challenge and a different sense of accomplishment. Both can offer “oneness” with nature, but can suburbs compete with the grandness of vast country or mountain views? Maybe not. ⁣ ⁣ When I compare “real” adventures to “mini” adventures, this is what I mean. Though, maybe we should ditch the labels and completely redefine what adventure is or can be. Some of us don’t even have access to a backyard right now and are having to find ways to adventure inside!⁣ ⁣ I originally wrote this post (just before the quarantine) to acknowledge any others craving bigger adventures along with me, but now I’m just grateful for any time spent outdoors – especially since all the other activities we had planned to fill our time here in MI have been cancelled. ⁣ ⁣ I’m also appreciating everyone’s refreshing outdoor pics, so here’s a throwback to when we hiked Mt. Baker in WA a year ago. The last pic is of me keeping Ilamay’s head from hitting the ground because she always throws it back and falls over when she’s upset. And I’m almost smiling because it’s just so typical that we have this type of moment before even starting a strenuous hike. Pretty sure the reason was because she wanted to walk the opposite direction on the trail and we were making her go the “right” way.😂 ⁣What “mini” adventures are you finding during this time (indoors or out)? Let’s inspire each other! #pnwadventures #mtbaker #sunglare #littlehiker #childrenwhoadventure #pnwlove #pnwisbeautiful #pacificnorthwestisbest

Dads/husbands are just the best and so important. Who else shows your kid a swarm of bees from INSIDE the swarm of bees (swipe)? 😂 I’m serious, though. Who else takes them for a bike ride full of wheelies? Who else roughhouses with them when Mom is too tired [read: always]? Who else builds tree forts and gardens? Who else shows your kid the world of motorcycles and speed 🏍 – the world of perfect steak cooking – the world of how to fix anything. And who takes over when Mom just needs a break?⁣ ⁣ Of course, anyone can do these things and I don’t mean to be insensitive to families without dads/husbands, but I’m super appreciative of ours. And I want to remind everyone to be appreciative off ALL members of your family (including yourself). After all, that’s who we’re stuck hanging out with for the foreseeable future! 😊👨‍👩‍👧⁣ ⁣ What are some things the “dad” of your family does that you wouldn’t want to live without?

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