Happy {post} 4th of July !

I hope you had a fabulous holiday weekend!

Now that the holiday is over, what does Independence Day mean to you? As a Tiny House enthusiast, for me it means FREEDOM. The freedom to take control of your life, rather than someone else controlling it for you. The freedom to live life with intention and purpose, whatever that may be.

Since moving into my Tiny House, I've been able to orchestrate my life in a way that brings meaning and joy, rather than being enslaved by a mortgage or the accumulation of "stuff". Although tiny houses are not for everyone, simplifying one's life and living smaller is a path that most anyone can take.

So... What will you do today to begin your journey to FREEDOM and INDEPENDENCE??

RECAP ON TINY HOUSE EVENTS
The past couple of months were filled with lots of excitement around my Tiny House! Get an update on all the happenings below.

GRATITUDE!!!
Most importantly, I want to send a big thank you , if you voted in Apartment Therapy's Small Cool Contest. A few weeks have passed, and I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge everyone who took the time to vote. My Tiny House was one of the 5 finalists for the "Teeny-Tiny" division, and I couldn't have done it without you!

Cheers to FREEDOM & INDEPENDENCE!

Effecting change is a slow process that requires commitment, diligence and patience. Many years ago, I started a discussion with Ventura County officials to find a solution for sustainable, affordable housing. It began with a prefabricated modular structure for a guesthouse (aka second dwelling unit). Read more here.

On June 18th, Sol Haus Design held a private screening of TINY: A Story About Living Small and a tour of my Tiny House. Co-hosted by APA (American Planning Association), a total of 30 participated, most of whom were Ventura County and City Planners. One of the main interest was in affordable housing. Special thanks to Jennifer Choi at Ventura County Planning for facilitating, and to Dianne McCourtney & Laurie Slade from Ojai Valley Green Coalition for additional help!

Sol Haus Design will continue the dialogue with planning officials to include tiny houses and small(er) dwellings in zoning ordinances. With other municipalities taking the lead (ie: Portland, Brainerd, Pittsburg), these examples can set the standard with which we can use as a model.

On May 17th, Sol Haus Design hosted a Tiny House Tour with a screening of the TINY movie at The MOB Shop. I was thrilled that filmmaker Christopher Smith joined us for both events (thanks Christopher!).

Two attendants came as far as the SF Bay Area and Orange, California! It's especially rewarding to share my love for tiny living, and show others that it is absolutely do-able.

On May 30th, Sunset Magazine hosted their annual Celebration Weekend in Palo Alto, California. I was honored to take part in the panel discussion for Tiny Houses, along with several other notable figures in the Tiny House movement. A very successful event hosted by the fine folks at Sunset (special thanks to Joanna Lindberg)!

Sol Haus Design has been incredibly fortunate with various media opportunities. Recently I had a delightful meeting with Hanna Lunde, a journalist from Oslo, Norway. Since the design for my Tiny House is largely influenced by Scandinavian aesthetics, I'm excited to be considered for the Norwegian magazine. Stay tuned!

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