Image: Phaitoon FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Just over a month ago I posted about what we owned as a minimalist (or simple living) family.

But a lot has changed in the last month.

Ever since we first started simplifying we dreamed of being able to live out of a backpack and travel…

…and just over 2 years since we started de-cluttering and making intentional changes it is now a reality!  We are in China and this post is about what we brought with us.

… we aren’t technically living out of backpacks… suitcases, but the idea is the same.

Here is what we brought with us and what we are storing…

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Image: by AmbroFreeDigitalPhotos.net

Last month was pretty exciting with Big News #1. This is a continuation … though unrelated…

I love news and surprises and this is another thing I have been really excited to share with you!

Our simple living is making a big change…

….we are getting rid of a bunch more stuff because…

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My previous post about ‘exactly’ what we own has (by far) been the most popular post on this blog.

I figured I would post an update because we have gotten settled and cleared out more. We love our little apartment!

If your new to the blog (welcome!), we are a family of 4 (kids are 9 and 5) who have downsized from 2000 square feet to a small 1 bedroom apartment.

Come on in!  Have a cup of tea and a cookie and let me show you around.  This is what we own:

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So no deep thoughts in this post, just an update on what is going on over here…. if you are interested

For the last year-ish (about 10 months to be exact) I have been playing with having my hair in dreads.  I have always wanted to try them out and think they look soooo cool.

So last Feb, when we were snowed in one weekend, Bryon put dreads in my hair.  (he is the most amazing man ever… it took him two days).  The basic idea behind dreads is to get your hair to form tight knots (think mats on a stray animal) in a somewhat organized fashion.  There is a whole culture out there with lots of opinions on the right way to do it, but most commonly recognized is just back-combing sections of hair (think bangs that stood up straight in the 80′s).

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My daughter wanted me to take a bunch of pictures with her and I have been playing with some different editing techniques.  These are pictures I took of them at the park last week. … most are of Lily because Ian was hiding and running.

A few weeks ago it was mentioned in the comments that I should ask the kids some questions.  I do all the writing on here (except for a post by Lily last fall and maybe some more when school starts again).

What do the kids think about minimalism?

Lets ask them:

Me: What is minimalism?

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Want to come wander through our minimalist apartment?  We are pretty social people and would love to have you over, but it is a bit far to travel for most of you.  This way is probably not too exciting but I get a lot of questions about what we actually do own.  …so here is the nitty-gritty.

Our simple minimalist living – summer 2012

Let me take you on a tour of sorts.

First here is the living room

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Super amazing pic by my hubby

Our minimalist living has taken us as a family farther than we originally anticipated but we are really enjoying it.   It is thinking outside the box a bit for most people but it is really worth it.

I wanted to write out some of the reasons we have chosen an even smaller space even though we are a family of four.  Not only is it possible but there are perks

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Our major move toward simple living was about 14 months ago.  We moved out of our house into a two bedroom apartment.

We were adopting simple living and minimalism

We went from about 2000 sq feet to about 900.  Here is a picture of our move last spring:

Here is our moving truck and my dancing children.  Such cuties

What we moved with us filled our 2 bedroom apartment and  a 1 stall garage.

I really thought we had become minimalist.

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This blogging thing is still pretty new to me and I have some confessions I need to get off my chest.  Maybe just clarifications.  First off I want to thank-you so much for coming and reading.  I am having a blast with Loving Simple Living and meeting you through e-mail, and comments has been even more fun.  (I totally love those of you who come and read without leaving a trace too, we can still be friends).

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