Barack Obama and The Jewel Box™ Home

Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek. - President Elect Barack Obama

We can't drive our SUVs and eat as much as we want and keep our homes on 72 degrees at all times... and then just expect that other countries are going to say OK. That's not leadership. That's not going to happen.- President Elect Barack Obama

Ever since Barack Obama became President Elect, I have toyed with the idea of sharing my small story about his campaign and the Jewel Box™ Home connection. Today I have decided to throw caution to the winds and for the first - and likely last time - allow politics to make an appearance on the Jewel Box™ site. First, a little background. All my life I have voted a straight Republican ticket. In fact, when I turned 18, I proudly cast my first ballot for Reagan. As a young single woman in Chicago, I volunteered downtown as a Republican Precinct captain. Since Chicago is fiercely Democratic, this was a lot like being a goldfish in a pool of sharks. Regardless, I persevered in my dedication to the Republican party. This was in large part due to my upbringing in a diehard Republican family.

Obama first made an impression on me when he ran for the U.S. Senate and won. After he declared for President, I immediately volunteered to help with the campaign. My father and husband - both hard core Republicans - could not resist teasing me as a traitor to the family's political heritage. So where does the Jewel Box™ Home come into this story? I volunteered to host a get-together at our home in the first round of house parties for Obama. My husband found this especially humorous since Senator Obama would not be coming to our house, but 'speaking' from a town hall meeting in Iowa via the internet. No matter, I was throwing this party and to his credit, my husband helped set up the computer screen hook-ups. True to the Jewel Box™ party staging rules, I served buffet style - sandwiches, sides, wine, beer and soda - in the dining room, while people talked and listened to Obama in the the living room. Because my son was 18 at the time and voting the following year in his first election, several of his friends came over along with life long Democrats and fellow Republicans. It went beautifully and the comfortable, smaller scaled proportions of our home made it easy for people from every political background to mingle. And we were all surprised when several TV stations showed up later to interview us as 'Republicans for Obama'. I made my first - and so far only - TV appearance that night on ABC and WGN in Chicago.

Aside from the house party connection, what does President Elect Obama have to do with the Jewel Box™ Home? The hallmarks of a Jewel Box™ home in a much smaller way parallel the Obama political philosophy. Obama by recognizing the needs of Americans from all walks of life, has brought together liberals and conservatives; black, white, latino and asian Americans into one community with a desire to create a better nation and world, through the collective actions of a united people. I have not met President Elect Obama, nor do I ever expect to have that privilege, but on a much smaller scale, Jewel Box™ follows Obama's unifying vision. The best traits of both large and small houses are embodied in the Jewel Box™ Home satisfying the needs of all households and lifestyles - singles, downsizing Baby Boomers, young couples, families, and single parents. The focus is on livability not size and human needs take priority. The Jewel Box™ lifestyle also teaches us the skills of functioning in a multi-dimensional society. Spaces have to be shared and the ability to respect the needs and desires of others is learned. As I mentioned earlier, most of my family, including my husband, are lifelong Republicans. Still, aside from some good natured teasing, my decision to support Obama was not only tolerated, but respected. This is the direct result of the spirit and atmosphere of a Jewel Box™ home, whose primary purpose is to enrich the lives of its people.

May your home and your life bring light and love to the world.

Until next time,

Genevieve

Rerun Of My Favorite Kitchen Things

"I have only a little galley kitchen, but I can put out a dinner party for forty."

— Martha Greenlaw, Chef and Author
Recipes from a Very Small Island, (2005)

Television and radio shows rerun favorite programs and books reprint best-sellers outfitted with new covers. Why not blogs? Rather than let more time pass between posts, I have decided to rerun 'My Favorite Kitchen Things' which first appeared about six months ago. It contains a few kitchen suggestions that might come in handy as you get ready for the holidays.

And now for 'My Favorite Kitchen Things' which first appeared last May...

The photo above is my galley kitchen and it measures 8' x 8' from wall-to-wall. So how do I function in a space this small? Let me tell you about some of my favorite kitchen things that I couldn't live without.

• My Step Stool. I have the most wonderful step stool that allows me to reach the top shelf of my kitchen cabinets without any problem. At 5'2" tall on a good day, I could not function in the kitchen without my step stool. It has a false front that looks exactly like my kitchen drawers and folds easily for storage in the kitchen kick plate when not in use.

• Under Shelf Wire Bins. The wire bins in the picture below let me make use of the space above my dishes, glasses and mugs. I also use them in my pantry. They are available for a few dollars each at any The Container Store, a nation wide chain that sells organizational and storage tools. You can purchase these bins in white - which I chose - or silver. More colors may be available, I haven't been to The Container Store in awhile. And yes, call me boring, but all my dishes are white. I prefer a monochromatic goes-with-everything look.

• Over-the-Sink-Colander or Strainer. If you read the Jewel Box Living newsletter you know that I love my large single bowl sink. But an over the sink colander lets me have it all. Whenever I need that "extra" sink for rinsing vegetables or draining pasta, I pull out my expandable colander/strainer. When not in use, I store it with my pots and pans. These colanders are available at Target for $20 to $25.

Until next time,

Genevieve

Happy Halloween!

The Summer/Fall 2008 edition of Jewel Box ^sm Living is ready! Featured articles include:

• No Mud Room? No Problem!
• Accessories and the Smaller Home
• You Can Do It! The Cocktail Party
• All new "Quick Tips"
  

For the autumn entryway look shown above, read about Tea Lights under "Quick Tips". To see the complete Summer/Fall 2008 edition of Jewel Box ^sm Living visit http://www.thejewelboxhome.com/ and click on the Jewel Box ^sm Living newsletter tab.

Until next time,

Genevieve

The Jewel Box™ Home - Resources You Can Use

A good resource makes it easier to do the things you need to do
so you can get around to doing the things you want to do.
- Genevieve Ferraro

It is now officially Fall. As life gets busy again with school, community and work functions and the approaching holidays, its always nice to have a little help. To make it easier to cope with the daily challenges we all face at this time of year, I am adding a list of Recommended Resources to The Jewel Box™ Home blog. You can find this list to the right under "About Me". These will only be resources I have personally used and found helpful - so right now the list is short!

Those of you that follow the Jewel Box™ blog will recognize the first resource on the list, ABT Appliances, the wonderful full service electronics and appliance store where I bought my new washing machine. To read more about ABT see the May 1, 2008 post titled A New Washing Machine for The Jewel Box™ Home.

Make it Better, the second resource listed, does exactly what its name promises - make the basics of life better, easier and often more enjoyable. This valuable site is filled with information, ideas and practical help for residents living on the North Shore of Chicago. But those of you in other areas of the country should not overlook the delicious recipes, inspiring stories and useful lifestyle tips that can be enjoyed anywhere you call home.

If you would like to meet me and learn how to create your own Jewel Box™ Home, its not too late to sign up for a series of classes I am teaching at Oakton Community College called The Jewel Box Home: Decorating and Entertaining Basics for the Smaller Home. Classes begin November 5th, 7:00 to 8:30 pm.

Until next time!

Genevieve

The Jewel Box Home: Scenes from the Garden

Espalier Pear Tree Outside my Kitchen Window

This is the scene out the kitchen window of my espalier pear tree - a tree that grows flat against a wall or fence, usually in a very small area. As with the Jewel Box sm Home, small is not a limitation, but an advantage. Espalier trees are trained to grow in tight spaces, this automatically produces an abundance of fruit because the branching is limited.

View of Pear Tree from my Kitchen Window

Although my garden area is small, I love to cook with fresh herbs, so I plant my favorites in pots outside the kitchen door. Below is the potted rosemary which I can easily reach by opening the screen door and snipping a piece while standing inside the back kitchen entrance.

Potted Rosemary Outside Kitchen Door

I also like to "branch" out and try some exotic gardening. These plants are always in pots which I bring indoors when the weather cools. Here is my very tiny lemon tree, which as you can see, does have lemons. These should ripen by the end of September.

Potted Lemon Tree

Until next time!

Genevieve

The Jewel Box™Home: What's for dinner?

Thursday Night Dinner

Flank Steak
Risotto with Asparagus
Red and Yellow Tomatoes with Basil and Olive Oil

One of the greatest joys of small home living is the time "freed up" for the daily rituals that bring friends and especially family together. In our home, an important part of the day is dinner. Most nights we sit down to eat as a family and often one of the boys will have a friend join us.

Our dinners are simple, but simple is not the same thing as quick. I don't care how fast Rachel Ray can whip up a meal, it takes time to make something that tastes good. I usually spend at least one hour or more in the kitchen. That does not mean, however, that I am slaving away. Making dinner is not about racing to put food on the table. I cook at a leisurely pace and the boys stop in grab a snack and chat, or my husband joins me to share a glass of wine.

Still, don't get the wrong idea and picture this perfect family sitting down to dinner. The reality is that I dirty a lot of dishes when I cook, one of the boys usually doesn't like what I make and someone is always complaining about school or work. And don't forget that my husband is Italian, so our dinner conversations often border on yelling.

Yet the routine of making a meal and eating together is an important way in which we connect as a family. So what do I make at dinner time? Monday is reserved for fish, Tuesday is pasta, Wednesday is Chicken, Thursday is beef or pork and Friday is pasta again or pizza. I usually don't plan weekend meals in advance.

The dinner pictured above is a family favorite - Flank steak, risotto with asparagus and red and yellow tomatoes with fresh basil and olive oil. The tomatoes and basil are from my garden. I like the look and flavor of the sweet yellow tomatoes combined with the sharper taste of the red variety. Let me know if you would like the recipes.

Until next time,

Genevieve

Choosing a Dog for a Smaller Home

"Buddy" our dog

For me a house becomes a home when you add one set of four legs, a happy tail, and that indescribable measure of love that we call a dog. - Roger Caras

I grew up with dogs and love most breeds - big and small, high energy dynamos and calm couch potatoes. But even though my children begged for a dog, we did not get one until my older son was twelve. Why not? Smaller homes and dogs are not always a good mix. When space is already limited, how do you squeeze in a dog? Where will it sleep, where do you put the dog crate, food and water bowl and doggie bed? And what about those muddy paws during bad weather, the shedding fur and the commotion a dog causes? My dogs growing up were big lovable mutts that ran around outside all day and flopped down in front of the fireplace at night. This would never work in a smaller home with a tiny backyard and neighborhood leash laws.

In the end, I could not live without a dog. So after many years of research and countless visits to dog shows and breeders, we adopted a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. This is a quiet, calm smaller breed that is both a good family dog and nine-to-five dog; so he is perfectly content at home while we are away at work and school.

What I found out along the way to bringing Buddy into our lives, is that there are several dog breeds - big and small - that fit beautifully into a smaller home. The key is to find a breed that is calm with low to moderate exercise needs. These dogs tend to be comfortable in smaller spaces and less likely to do damage to your home. Some breeds to consider are:

• English Cocker Spaniels - These dogs are 15-17 inches in height and weigh 26 to 34 pounds. Because they are not as popular as cocker spaniels, inbreeding problems have mostly been avoided. This dog is a wonderful family companion that is eager to please.
• Greyhounds - This is a big dog weighing 60 to 70 pounds and measuring 26 to 30 inches in height. Quiet, clean and sweet, this is a lovely dog for people who want a larger breed. And surprisingly, the exercise requirements for this breed are more than manageable, a twenty minute walk once or twice a day is often enough. Another plus is that many greyhounds are available as rescue dogs from racing tracks.
  
• Pugs - This is a great all around dog. A very manageable size, 10-11 inches and 14 to 18 pounds, this breed is a charming companion that loves adults and children alike. Underneath that wrinkled face is a heart of gold.

Why aren't labradors and golden retrievers on the list? Both breeds are great dogs, but these are high energy animals that demand a great deal of exercise and likely will find a smaller home confining. Of course, if you have the time for at least one two hour run a day, by all means consider either of these breeds.

A wonderful resource for choosing the right dog is Paws to Consider by Brian Kilcommons and Sarah Wilson.

Until next time,

Genevieve

The Smaller Home as a Healing Sanctuary

Our homes are our sanctuaries. It's where we take our safety and security when something threatens us. ~ Tim Donohoe

I recently learned that my father is very ill. He makes his home out of state, and next week I will visit him. What does this have to do with living in a smaller home? During times of stress and difficulty, it is a comfort to know that because of its smaller size, my house does not need constant attention. It still looks presentable even if I don't manage to keep up with weekly cleaning. Because it requires less maintenance than a large house, my smaller home gives me room to breathe and time to recover, when other parts of my life are in crisis. I can also experience the calming benefits of time alone, but still hear the voices of my boys and husband downstairs, a welcome reminder that family is nearby.

Until next time,

Genevieve

Parties and the Smaller Home: Fiction vs. Fact

So where have I been these past two weeks? My day job has kept me very busy with a recent promotion. But more important, my younger son graduated from elementary school and my older son from high school. So this past Saturday, we threw a big graduation party.

Those of you who have visited the Jewel Box Home website know that I consider entertaining in a smaller home just as easy as entertaining in a large house. Why? How guests feel about a party and whether they enjoy themselves has nothing to do with the size of the house. There are only two things needed for a great party: Invite people into your home and make them feel welcome. Let's compare some the reasons people shy away from entertaining in a smaller home to the facts of small home entertaining.

Fiction	Fact
It is hard to entertain in a small home.	Great parties happen because guests feel welcome and have fun. The size of the house has nothing to with it. In fact, the more comfortable proportions of the smaller home usually make for better parties.
To make great food, you need a big kitchen.	Big kitchens don’t guarantee great food anymore than the fastest computer with the latest word processing program guarantees a best selling novel. Great food comes out of both large and small kitchens. But in my experience, when guests see a large expensive kitchen, they expect fabulous food, so the hostess is under pressure to deliver. Guests expect much less from smaller kitchens. People are always surprised when wonderful food comes out of a tiny kitchen and the hostess is typically showered with compliments.
To entertain well, you need a kitchen island.	Picture the best parties you have ever attended. Is there a kitchen island in any of those memories? I’ll bet not. Unless the purpose of the party is to unveil your new kitchen island, you don’t need one to throw a party.

Until next time,

Genevieve

Rethink the Big House as a Metaphor for Success

Should success mean owning a big house? Not according to Barbara Kingsolver, well known author of The Bean Trees and Animal Dreams. In her commencement speech at Duke University she stressed the need to "rethink the big, lonely house as a metaphor for success". A short annotated version of her speech follows:

"The rule of 'success' has traditionally meant having boatloads of money. But we are not really supposed to put it in a boat. A house would (be) the customary thing. Ideally it should be large, with a lot of bathrooms … but no more than four people. If two friends come over during approved visiting hours, the two children have to leave. The bathroom-to-resident ratio should at all times remain greater than one. I'm not making this up; I'm just observing, it's more or less my profession. … Rethink the big, lonely house as a metaphor for success. You are in a perfect position to do that. You've probably spent very little of your recent life in a freestanding unit with a bathroom-to-resident ratio of greater than one. … As you leave here, remember what you loved most in this place. … The way you lived, in close and continuous contact. This is an ancient human social construct that once was common in this land. We called it a community."

Until next time!

Genevieve

Its Memorial Day Weekend, Time to Garden!

The cone flowers in the picture above are from a small perennial flower garden I keep outside my kitchen door. For those of us that live in the Midwest, gardening begins over Memorial Day weekend. Its possible to plant before then, but the soil is not warm enough for plants to make any progress. This weekend I put in both my vegetable garden and flower garden and I'd like to introduce you to a little technique I like to call "clump gardening". I don't recommend this for vegetables, but it is wonderful for flowers, especially annuals. The idea is to group clusters of plants together to create high impact accents of color in selected areas of the garden. You can get a feel for this in the photo of my garden from last year. I "clumped" the geraniums so there would be splashes of red through out the green foundation plantings. The cone flowers shown above were also arranged for pops of color along my fence. I far prefer the bright showy shocks of color that you can achieve with "clump planting" to lonely flowers scattered sparsely throughout a bed.

Until next time,

Genevieve

Introducing the Wine Guy!

"I know I don't have his looks. I know I don't have his money. I know I don't have his connections, his knowledge of fine wines. "
- Wayne Campbell in Wayne's World (1992)

Wine knowledge is not a skill set I possess. Oh sure, I know a white from a red, but that's because I can see the difference in color. This puts me at a disadvantage when I'm having a party. Many of my guests are true wine connoisseurs and I want to serve something they can enjoy. So what do I do? Turn to my good friend the Wine Guy! Mrs. Wine Guy is also a good friend of mine. We both are legendary for our shocking lack of ability to recognize fine wines. Many of our weeknight dinners have been unknowingly enhanced by a treasured wine our husbands were storing for a special occasion. Indeed, Mrs. Wine Guy once made a pot roast with a $150 bottle of cabernet from a case of wine bought at auction by Mr. Wine Guy. Her thinking, "there were multiple bottles of the same cabernet in the wine cellar so I thought it was OK to use."

With all the upcoming graduation parties - my older son is graduating from high school and my younger son from 8th grade - Memorial Day get-togethers and Father's Day celebrations, I asked the Wine Guy to recommend a few reasonably priced wines for those of us who are wine-challenged. Here are his selections.

Whites

• Toasted Head Chardonnay - Available for $9-$12 at most major grocery store chains. This wine is described by the Wine Guy as toasty. I don't care much for Chardonnay, but I have tried this wine and really enjoyed it.
  
• Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay - Available for $9-$14 , also at most major grocery chains. According to the Wine Guy, this used to be a more expensive wine, but the price was lowered without affecting the quality. He says there is some effervescence to this wine, so don't be surprised by a slight fizzy quality.
  

Reds

• Montes Alpha Cabernet - Available for $10 - $15 at Costco and large grocery chains. To quote the Wine Guy, "this is a fruit forward, dark berry, large wine. In a blind taste test it was put in the same category as wines priced at $35 a bottle".
  
• Barnard-Griffin Merlot - Available for $10 - $15. (I forgot to ask where to buy this wine but my guess is most grocery stores and any liquor store will carry it.) The Wine Guy calls this wine "easy to drink and mellow."

Champagne

Now for my favorite wine, champagne! I absolutely adore champagne! If I could drink only one type of wine or alcoholic beverage for the rest of my life it would be champagne. I do happen to know that true champagne comes from the Champagne region in France. Everything else is sparkling wine. Beyond this tidbit of knowledge I am clueless. So what does the Wine Guy say about champagne? When it comes to champagne you have to splurge. He recommends:

• Schramsberg Sparkling Wine - A California wine that ranges in price from $20 - $40. Wine Guy tells me that Schramsberg is the sparkling wine Richard Nixon took to Beijing on his historic visit to see Chairman Mao. Nixon gave Mao Schramsberg sparkling wine as a gift in exchange for the pandas which Mao gifted to the United States.
• Domaine Chandon Sparkling Wine - For a more reasonably priced champagne, the Wine Guy suggests Domaine Chandon sparkling wine from California. He describes this as a tolerable sparkling wine that is greatly improved by the addition of flavored liquors such as, raspberry Chambord. He adds that its perfect for my Genny cocktail. (To find the recipe visit http://www.thejewelboxhome.com/site/pages/hostess.html)
  

I urge everyone to seek out and use your own local wine guy. And if you have any recommendations we want to hear them.

Until next time,

Genevieve

My Favorite Kitchen Things

This is my galley kitchen and it measures 8' x 8' from wall-to-wall. So how do I function in a space this small? Let me tell you about some of my favorite kitchen things that I couldn't live without.

• My Step Stool. I have the most wonderful step stool that allows me to reach the top shelf of my kitchen cabinets without any problem. At 5'2" tall on a good day, I could not function in the kitchen without my step stool. It has a false front that looks exactly like my kitchen drawers and folds easily for storage in the kitchen kick plate when not in use.

• Under Shelf Wire Bins. The wire bins in the picture below let me make use of the space above my dishes, glasses and mugs. I also use them in my pantry. They are available for a few dollars each at any The Container Store, a nation wide chain that sells organizational and storage tools. You can purchase these bins in white - which I chose - or silver. More colors may be available, I haven't been to The Container Store in awhile. And yes, call me boring, but all my dishes are white. I prefer a monochromatic goes-with-everything look.

• Over-the-Sink-Colander or Strainer. If you read the Jewel Box Living newsletter you know that I love my large single bowl sink. But an over the sink colander lets me have it all. Whenever I need that "extra" sink for rinsing vegetables or draining pasta, I pull out my expandable colander/strainer. When not in use, I store it with my pots and pans. These colanders are available at Target for $20 to $25.

Until next time,

Genevieve

Happy Mother's Day!

Sleepy Baby c.1910 - Mary Cassatt (1845 - 1926)

Mary Cassatt is well known for her pastels and oil paintings of mothers and children involved in the rhythms of every day life. Cassatt beautifully captures the deep love mothers have for their children, as well as the warmth, comfort and security children feel in the presence of their mothers. It is almost as if we are intruding on an intimate moment between mother and child.

My mother passed away over 20 years ago. I am always reminded of her by the lovely expressions on the faces Cassatt's mothers. These are perfect replicas of my mother's expression while having dinner with her family or throwing a party for friends. She had created something beautiful and brought joy into our lives. Her family, her home and her friends were her life's work.

Although my mother died before I was married or had children, she passed on to me and my sister what she considered the foundation for keeping a beautiful home - a schedule/routine. During the week, establish a time and place for all basic household tasks. By keeping to this routine, family life runs much more smoothly than it otherwise would. Children know when laundry will be done - or for my boys, when they should do laundry. Everyone knows when grocery shopping takes place, when sheets are changed and when dinner is served. A routine is especially helpful in the case of a smaller home, where bathrooms and bedrooms are shared.

Basic tasks to include in your household routine/schedule:

• grocery shopping
• laundry
• changing bed linen
• dinner time
  
• bed time for younger children

So how does my weekly schedule look?

• Sunday - Grocery Shopping - Plan for two hours round trip to the grocery store and back, then another hour to put away groceries. I usually cook a very simple meal on Sundays, because I'm exhausted after the grocery store!
  
• Monday - Bed linens are changed every two weeks - But don't beat yourself up if it slips to three weeks or more. No one is going to die because of dirty linen! And I usually have pasta for dinner on Mondays because its easy.
• Tuesday - No big chores on Tuesday, but I cook a more substantial dinner. Usually chicken.
• Wednesday - No big chores and I cook a simple dinner or we have sandwiches. At this point I have cooked three meals in a row and I'm ready for a break.
• Thursday - No big chores, but I cook a larger meal. My boys enjoy beef, so I often try to serve that on Thursdays.
• Friday - Take a break! Pizza for dinner and no chores.
• Saturday - Clean the house and do laundry. This is a big day for chores, but I prefer to get everything done in one day. Usually I work with the kids cleaning the house and doing laundry until 3:00 pm. Then we are done and ready to entertain guests or go out. The laundry is usually not all folded, but that happens a little at a time during the week.

As for dinner, we eat very late, usually at 8:30 or 9:00. I always tell the children we are on European time! When they were younger, they ate and were in bed by 8:00. But now that they are teenagers, we eat as a family after they are done with sports, after school activities and homework.

Now back to Mothers Day. Those of you who visit the the Jewel Box Home website, know that I created a cocktail - The Genny - in honor of my mother, the original Jewel Box diva. So for Mother's Day, treat yourself to a Genny and give yourself credit for all the sacrifices you make and love you give without asking anything in return!

The Genny

Champagne
Pomegranate Liqueur (I prefer Pama)
Strawberry for garnish

Fill a fluted glass 3/4th full with champagne.
Top the glass off with 1/4th pomegranate liqueur.
Garnish with a strawberry and enjoy!

Top Ten Reasons to Live in a Smaller Home

Who says you need a big house?
- My son Marc Ferraro at 12 years old asking me why I was obsessed with moving to a bigger house

As many of you who read this blog know, two years ago I was knee deep in big-house envy. And I'm embarassed to admit, but it touched practically every area of my life, including my relationship with my sons. I was convinced that they needed a larger house for their mental and physical health - separate bedrooms with separate study areas, a bathroom of their own to share, or better yet, a separate bathroom for each boy. This would give them their own space, they would be better students because they were more organized. They wouldn't keep each other up at night so they would get more sleep and be healthier. And when one of them was sick, it was less likely to spread across the shared bedroom to my other son.

Anyway, I complained about this endlessly and of course they both heard me. One day Marc had enough. He turned to face me and forcefully blurted out, "Who says you need a big house?" After I recovered from the shock of hearing him say this - up to that point both boys had humored my dream home fantasies - I said, "I want things to be better for my family, especially you boys". I will never forget what he said next, "Mom we don't care about the house. We like it here and don't want to move. This, is your problem and we are tired of hearing about it". This from a 12-year-old!

After feeling somewhat betrayed by my own son, and walking out of the room in a bit of snit - even though I'm middle-aged I can still throw a calculated fit like a pro - I slowly came to my senses and realized that my son was right. This was about me and what society advertised as important for a good life.

So why should anyone not only feel good about, but celebrate living in a smaller home? Here are the top ten reasons:

TOP TEN REASONS TO LIVE IN A SMALLER HOME

1. Greater Financial Freedom. Super-sized houses come with hefty mortgages. Factor in property taxes, homeowner’s insurance, utility bills and maintenance costs, and most of your paycheck quickly goes into housing expenses. Buying a smaller home leaves more money for other investments and activities you enjoy.
   
2. Less Maintenance. Big homes mean more space, more rooms, bigger lawns – all of which add up to more work. Choosing a smaller home gives you more time to do things you and your family enjoy.
3. Closer Family Ties. Families living in a smaller home naturally learn to respect each other’s needs and wants. Children also learn the important life skill of how to share personal and communal living space.
4. More Comfort. Most big houses are focused on size, not livability. The advantage of a smaller home is that living spaces are built to human scale. Rooms feel cozier, warmer and more inviting. Human needs take priority.
5. Less Intimidating. The upside to a big house is having an impressive place to live. Larger houses make a grand display of space and luxury appointments. But this can be intimidating to guests and sometimes even younger family members. In a smaller home common areas are warm and inviting, retreat areas are relaxing and calm.
6. The “Green” Advantage. Smaller homes have a smaller footprint. Fewer rooms and less space mean fewer resources are used for heating, cooling and lighting. Owning a smaller home is a great way to be responsible environmental citizen.
7. Functional, Efficient Living Space. Because of their large volumes of space, many rooms in bigger houses aren’t used efficiently. This is especially true of formal dining rooms, oversized great rooms and two-story foyers. The functional layout of space in smaller homes allows the daily rhythms of life to flow more easily and naturally.
8. Bigger Homes Don’t Necessarily Make You Happier. Many people think moving up to a bigger house will make them happier. But that happiness is never fully realized or is short-lived. Why? A larger home comes with a bigger mortgage and more upkeep. Nor does a bigger house necessarily satisfy more of our needs.
9. More money for Education. A lower monthly mortgage payment means more money is available for education. This is especially helpful for families with college age children, but also gives adults the freedom to return to school and change careers or explore other opportunities after retirement.
10. Decorating and Entertaining are Easier. Decorating a big house is expensive and professional help is often needed. When entertaining, guest may feel isolated and parties unstructured. By contrast, decorating the smaller takes less money and is easy when basic rules are followed. Also, the more comfortable proportions of the smaller home usually make for better parties.

Until next time!

Genevieve

A New Washing Machine for the Jewel Box™ Home

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
- Margaret Wolfe Hungerford


This is an LG 4.2 cubic foot white front load washing machine. Isn't it beautiful? This past Saturday, water started streaming from our washing machine mid-cycle and flooding the laundry room floor. After charging us $139.00, the repairman said it was beyond repair. Not good news, but it also meant I could go out and buy a new washer. Why did I choose the one pictured? Not because its an LG, although I do like that brand. This washing machine is stackable, which means you can attach the matching dryer to the top of the washer and use one-half the space of a side-by-side unit. As those of us in smaller homes know, when space is at a premium, a smaller footprint is a plus. So did I also buy the matching dryer? No, that will have to come later when my current dryer goes bust. But I am considering asking my husband to make it my Mother's Day gift. I will keep you posted.

And before I close, I have to recommend ABT Electronics in Glenview, Illinois where I bought my new washing machine. Their service is excellent, they will match any price and they have every brand you could ever want. If you live in the Midwest, especially in the Chicagoland area, there is no need to go anywhere else for appliances other than ABT.

Until next time,
Genevieve

New Features Added to Jewel Box ™ Home Website!

Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark and a large group of professionals built the Titanic. - Author unknown

The new features which I promised were coming to the Jewel Box™ Home website have at last gone live! The highlights are:

• Jewel Box™ Living – A quarterly newsletter with the first issue, Spring 2008, now up on the website.
• Into the Homes of Readers – A forum where readers can share stories of their small homes.
• The Gallery – Three photo galleries, the first featuring more photos of my home, the second gallery showing party photos and the third with photos of readers homes.
• Design Consults – A tab that lets readers contact me for design consults in the Chicago land area.

You can visit all the new features at http://www.thejewelboxhome.com/. In the meantime, here is an excerpt from my Letter to Readers in the Spring 2008 issue of Jewel Box Living.

The other day, my 14-year-old son informed me that because of the Jewel Box ™ website, I will never be able to live in a big house. To quote his exact words, “Even if you become rich and famous, you can never have a mansion.”

A short three years ago, the thought that I would never live in a house larger than 2000 square feet, would have left me in a depressed state for weeks. I subscribe to the theory that humans behave like herding animals. We like to group together and then gain status within the group. I had joined the home-owning group, and was ready to improve my status by moving to a larger house. When my husband wanted to stay in our smaller home, I was crushed. If not part of the upwardly mobile home-owning community, who was I? I felt like the lone springbok cut off from the herd.

Given my past obsession with trading up, many of my friends and family are surprised that I no longer want a big house. But I am passionate about creating the Jewel Box ™ look and helping others do the same. And then there are the intangibles. In a larger home, would I hear my younger son whistling in the morning? Or both boys laughing and talking at night in the bedroom they share? Priceless! And would my boys feel comfortable sharing their opinions on the frequent verbal sparring matches between their parents? According to the boys, “Our friends’ parents argue like amateurs. You and dad are professionals”! Again, priceless!

So when my son made his announcement the other day, I said, without hesitation, “I don’t ever want a big house or mansion. But the rich part could be fun; I can take a pass on famous.” Of course, if ever I am rich and famous, you will probably read about my Jewel Box™ vacation house in People magazine.

Until next time!

Genevieve

Small Homes as Status Symbols

To be happy at home is the ultimate result of all ambition.
- Samuel Johnson

George Carlin is known for saying, "A house is just a place for your stuff". Technically, this is true. But for most of us, where we live not only fulfills our need for shelter, but also tells the world who we are. More than any other possession, a house is used by our family, friends and neighbors as a barometer of our status and importance within the community. And that is why our houses are such emotionally charged topics of conversation. We attach so many feelings to our homes; pride, success, satisfaction, power, jealously, belonging, love, the list is endless. And what does all this have to do with small home living? Most people move from a small home to a larger home because by society's standards, bigger is better. Many life events - the birth of a child, a significant job promotion or rise in income - come with the expectation that we will move to a bigger house. Until recently, it was considered unusual for someone who had the financial resources not to trade-up to a larger home. Empty nesters were the only market segment where it was acceptable to go smaller. But this mind set is changing.

Cars are the second biggest purchase people make next to their home. Big cars, long considered symbols of success, are now getting some bad press as gas guzzling polluters. Hollywood celebrities and power brokers who drive small hybrid cars are applauded as role models for good environmental citizenship. Indeed, small cars are now sometimes seen as status symbols.

So can a smaller home be a status symbol? Absolutely! The day is coming when people who have the money to live in mansions will choose smaller houses. Rather than making a grand display of wealth and space, they will live in homes that blend beauty, harmony and function, in spaces defined by their owners needs. They will have stepped out of the large home mentality circle of safety and become enlightened!

Until next time!

Genevieve

The Jewel Box Home and Carlos Santana

Live your Light
- Carlos Santana on Tour 2008

This past Saturday, my husband took me and our boys to see Carlos Santana in concert. In my husband's words, "We are making 'the pilgrimage' to see the guitar god". For those of you not familiar with Santana, he is 60 years old, played at Woodstock and was known by a single name before Madonna was out of her teens. To get a flavor for his music, download onto your ipod, or - if you are in my generation - buy a CD with the songs, Maria Maria, Europa and Smooth. As my boys would say, "This dude is lights out"! Translation, they are impressed.

So what does Santana have to do with the Jewel Box Home? Santana's music has always had spiritual underpinnings and these are especially embodied in his latest tour where he encourages his audience to live with a peaceful purpose and bring light into the world. The Jewel Box Home philosophy parallels these themes. It is all about creating a living space filled with light and beauty that is a comforting haven for family and a welcoming place for friends to gather. This is more easily done in a smaller home where the emphasis is on livability not size and human needs take priority. Without the burden of a larger house and its upkeep, we are freed to enrich our lives with a multitude of experiences and reach out to family and friends when needed. May your home and your life bring light and love to the world.

Until next time!

Genevieve

Ten Tips for Raising Children in a Smaller Home

Children will not remember you for the material things you provided but for the feeling that you cherished them.”

Richard L. Evans Shortly before or after having their first child, most parents will utter the phrase, "We need more space. Let's start looking for a larger home." My husband and I did the same thing. Our first son was born when we lived in a one bedroom condo that was under 800 square feet. After we brought him home from the hospital, he slept in the bedroom, my husband and I slept in a futon on the living room floor every night. And this futon was only the size of a twin bed! We did this until my son was 18 months old and then moved to our current three bedroom, 1800 square foot house. I now have two sons and my oldest is 18 and leaving for college in the fall. So how do you raise children in a smaller home? Let me pass on a few tips that I learned from experience, as well as from a good friend who is married and has 12 children - that's right an even dozen - in a house no bigger than mine. Throw out the changing table. You do not need a changing table to change a diaper. Either change diapers on the bed or on a clean towel or diaper mat on the floor. I don't think I have ever seen a 1 1/2 year old lie still on a changing table for a diaper change. You will be saving money and space in your home. Babies and older children can sleep in the same room. Yes they can. So what if the baby wakes up the older sibling sometimes. Your older child will learn to fall back to sleep and babies like the company of someone else in the room. Children can share bedrooms. Contrary to conventional wisdom, children do not need their own bedrooms, they can share. This is what bunk beds are for. There is nothing wrong with two or three children sharing the same room. In fact, siblings tend to be closer when they share a room. My sons will talk to each other after the lights are out and discuss things they would never bring up with me. They also figure out how to solve problems on their own. Keep computers and TVs out of the bedroom. Put the computer and TV in the family room or the basement. This not only lets you keep tabs on what the children are watching or doing on the computer, but leaves space in the bedroom for the essentials - a bed and nightstand for each child, which leads me to the next tip. Keep furniture in the bedroom to a minimum. You only need a bed and nightstand for each child along with a lamp. This is more than enough personal space. But what about a dresser for clothing? That leads us to tip #6. Use closet organizing systems instead of dressers. If you organize the closet with space to hang clothes, as well as drawers and shelving units, you can do away with dressers and cabinets for storing clothes. I like the Elfa storage systems at the Container Store. Use the dining room table for homework. This is typically a space with good lighting, children can spread out and do their work and a parent is usually available in the kitchen or close by to offer help. Buy a nice book shelf and dedicate one or two shelfs for each child to store school work and books. This eliminates the need for a desk for each child and keeps children organized. Store toys in a nice cabinet kept in the dining room or family room. You can organize the different toys in baskets inside the cabinet. I know its hard, but try to get children to put toys away after they are done playing. Don't feel bad if you have to yell to get the kids to clean up. This seems to be a normal motivational tool. Adults shower in the morning, children bathe at night. This bathroom routine makes it possible for an entire household to function with only 1 full bathroom and a powder room. Just remember, the skills learned by children living in a smaller home - negotiating shared spaces, learning to respect differences - are the same skills that lead to success outside the home. Until next time, Genevieve